Veteran Indian off-spinner R Ashwin has raised questions over Harshit Rana’s inclusion in India’s squads across all formats. While Ashwin acknowledged the young pacer’s potential, he also admitted that the decision to pick him everywhere seems hard to justify right now.
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Ashwin said that Rana, despite being a lively fast bowler, might have earned his spot based on one standout moment — a fiery delivery during the IPL 2024 final against SunRisers Hyderabad, where he dismissed Nitish Kumar Reddy.
“Honestly, I’m not sure why they are selecting him in every format,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. “Maybe the selectors believe he can bat and want him as a pace-bowling all-rounder at No. 8. But I’m not convinced about his batting yet. He’s been around for a while now because of that one ball from the IPL final,” Ashwin added.
The 23-year-old Delhi fast bowler has been fast-tracked into India’s setup, making his Test debut in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year, followed by ODI and T20I debuts within a few months.
Despite his doubts, Ashwin praised Rana’s natural ability with the ball. “He definitely has skill. I won’t accept it if someone says he doesn’t. Sometimes selectors see something special in a player up close and back their instincts,” Ashwin explained.
He also compared Rana’s situation with his own early career and that of Ravindra Jadeja. “There was a time when people questioned Jadeja’s selection, and even mine, despite taking hundreds of wickets. So this kind of debate is not new,” he said.
Ashwin further mentioned that while fans may judge from a distance, only players on the field can truly understand what makes someone special. “You may think Rana looks ordinary, but when you face his heavy ball, you realize there’s something there. He has that X-factor,” he said.
However, Ashwin concluded by saying Rana’s current selection remains debatable. “Whether he deserves to be in the squad right now is still questionable,” he added.