India head coach Gautam Gambhir has hit back strongly at former chief selector Kris Srikkanth for his remarks about young pacer Harshit Rana’s selection in the national team. After India’s convincing series win over West Indies in Delhi, Gambhir addressed the media with visible frustration, calling out what he described as “cheap publicity tactics” aimed at young cricketers.

His comments came in response to Srikkanth’s jibe on his YouTube channel, where he joked that “Harshit Rana seems to be the first name on Gambhir’s teamsheet.” The remark quickly gained traction online, sparking a wave of trolling directed at the 23-year-old fast bowler.

Without directly naming Srikkanth, Gautam Gambhir expressed deep disappointment over the personal nature of such criticism, especially when aimed at youngsters still making their way in international cricket.

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“It’s shameful, to be honest,” Gautam Gambhir said. “If you’re targeting 23-year-olds just to get views on your YouTube channel, that’s not fair. His father isn’t an ex-cricketer or a big name; he’s made his place purely on merit. Criticise performances, not people. These kinds of personal attacks only harm a young player’s mindset.”

Gambhir, known for his straightforward and passionate demeanour, continued his defence with a strong moral appeal. “Imagine if your own kid was abused online for playing cricket. Harshit is only 23, not 33. Criticise me—I can take it—but leave these young boys out of it. There needs to be a sense of responsibility when discussing players representing India. Using them for content or clicks is just not right,” he added.

Interestingly, Harshit Rana wasn’t the only youngster Srikkanth targeted. The former India opener had also questioned the inclusion of Nitish Kumar Reddy, claiming that his selection was unjustified.

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“Where did Nitish Kumar Reddy come from? They say he’s Hardik Pandya’s replacement, but the real replacement should be Ravindra Jadeja, not Reddy,” Kris  Srikkanth said, further adding that Reddy might struggle in overseas ODIs.

Both Reddy and Rana were part of India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad, where they showed glimpses of promise with the ball, even as the batting unit faltered in four of the five Test matches. With Gambhir now defending his players publicly, it’s clear that the coach is determined to shield his young brigade from unfair criticism as India transitions into a new era under his leadership.