India's legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who questioned Harshit Rana's selection based on performances in the IPL 2024 season, has backed Gautam Gambhir, saying that the criticism should have more merit and it shouldn't just be there for the sake of it.
Ashwin on Harshit Rana's criticism
Earlier, India's young speedster Harshit Rana faced a lot of criticism after he was selected in India's ODI squad against Australia. Ahead of the white ball series against Australia, India head coach Gautam Gambhir didn't mince his words as he asked for more caution to be exercised and not to say anything just to get more YouTube views.
“I have always reiterated that no player should be attacked below the belt. When the attack becomes too personal, the genre changes. I would like to talk about Sanjay Manjrekar, who has criticised me throughout my career. But I have never held any grudge against him. What they say might be right or wrong, as long as the criticism doesn't get personal, I am fine with it,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Ashwin on criticism in cricket
Ashwin, who announced his international retirement in Australia last year, believes that one can be criticised for their skill, style of cricket, but it shouldn't get personal.
“Assume Harshit sees the reel in which he is being harshly criticised, and he is about to play a match for India, wouldn't he be shattered by this? And if his parents and friends see it, what will be their mindset? We can definitely criticise their skill, their style of cricket and the trade that they are plying. But it shouldn't get personal. It may be funny once or twice, but it shouldn't be a running theme. The reason they are doing this is that there is an audience for it. Negativity sells these days. They sell whatever is in demand. We should avoid consuming such content,” he added.
After Harshit Rana's debut coincided with IPL retentions in 2024, the chatter picked up around the pacer's close bond with current India head coach Gambhir. Despite being in the T20I squad, the 23-year-old didn't make his debut. He only got a game after the IPL retentions were completed, when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) selected him as an uncapped player.
The pacer then made his debut in all three formats of the game. However, the chatter became more ugly after he was named in the squad for the Australia ODIs.
Ashwin said that he fully sympathises with Rana, as the trolling and its vicious nature can affect anyone.
“Everyone's targeting Harshit Rana left, right and centre. Let me ask you one thing: if the same Harshit performs well next year, will the same people put him on the same pedestal and celebrate him?” asked Ashwin.
"I am certainly disappointed. My request through this channel has always been to see cricket as cricket. Don't buy or consume trash talk because that well could be your friend, your family, your son, your brother, your sister," he added.
Harshit Rana will be seen featuring in the upcoming ODI series against Australia, which is scheduled to start from October 19.
India's ODI squad against Australia
Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal