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India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir is facing criticism from fans and experts after Harshit Rana was picked over Arshdeep Singh for India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group A match against Bangladesh in Dubai. With Jasprit Bumrah ruled out due to injury, the Indian management decided to bring in Harshit Rana, a move that didn’t sit well with many fans, who accused Gambhir of favoritism.
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Harshit Rana Over Arshdeep Singh – A Controversial Call?
Ever since he made his ODI debut in 2022, Arshdeep Singh has been considered one of India’s most promising left-arm seamers. His ability to swing the new ball and deliver pinpoint yorkers in the death overs made him a fan-favorite choice to partner Mohammed Shami in the absence of Bumrah.
However, when the Indian team announced its playing XI, everyone was surprised to see Harshit Rana, who made his ODI debut just earlier this month against England, included instead. Many experts and fans expected Arshdeep to get the nod, given his experience and left-arm variety.
The selection of Harshit Rana raised eyebrows, particularly because he and Gautam Gambhir had worked together at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2024. This led to accusations of favoritism, with fans claiming Gambhir was backing a player he had previously mentored in the IPL.
Why Did India Pick Harshit Rana?
Unlike T20s, ODIs demand control in the middle overs, and the Indian think tank seemingly valued Rana’s ability to pick wickets in the middle phase of the game.
The Delhi pacer had impressed in domestic cricket and his short international career with his aggressive bowling and ability to extract bounce on flat pitches. His recent form may have influenced the decision, but it wasn’t enough to convince everyone.
Fans React: ‘Favoritism at Its Peak’
Indian cricket fans took to social media to express their frustration, alleging bias in Gambhir’s selection. Many pointed out that Arshdeep Singh’s proven ability in ODIs should have given him the edge over a relatively inexperienced Rana.
Here are some of the fan reactions:
- “Arshdeep has been India’s most consistent left-arm pacer, yet he is ignored for Harshit Rana? Favoritism at its peak!”
- “Harshit Rana might be good, but replacing Arshdeep? What’s happening here?”
- “Gautam Gambhir picking his KKR player over a more experienced option? Not fair!”
- “This is why India struggles with selections. Arshdeep deserved this chance!”
Match Updates: Bangladesh Opt to Bat First
Earlier in the day, Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bat first, hoping to put up a solid total. India made two changes from their last ODI against England, bringing in Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja in place of Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, fielded a bowling-heavy lineup with three pacers and two spinners, opting for Tanzim Hasan over Nahid Rana in their pace attack.
Playing XIs for India vs Bangladesh
India
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Hardik Pandya
- Axar Patel
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Harshit Rana
- Mohammed Shami
- Kuldeep Yadav
Bangladesh
- Tanzid Hasan
- Soumya Sarkar
- Najmul Hossain Shanto (c)
- Towhid Hridoy
- Mushfiqur Rahim (wk)
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz
- Jaker Ali
- Rishad Hossain
- Tanzim Hasan Sakib
- Taskin Ahmed
- Mustafizur Rahman
Final Thoughts
The decision to pick Harshit Rana over Arshdeep Singh has ignited debate among fans and experts. While the team management may have tactical reasons behind the move, the perception of favoritism is hard to ignore, given Gambhir’s past association with Rana.
Whether this gamble pays off for India remains to be seen, but for now, Gautam Gambhir is under scrutiny for his selection choices in a high-stakes ICC Champions Trophy match.
