Former India opener Kris Srikkanth has openly criticised the selection of young pacer Harshit Rana for India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad, questioning the rationale behind his inclusion. According to Srikkanth, Harshit’s numbers in IPL 2025 hardly justify his selection, as he struggled with both consistency and economy throughout the season.
In his opinion, proven performers like Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna—who even clinched the Purple Cap as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker—deserved the nod ahead of Harshit. Srikkanth, known for his blunt assessments, expressed his frustration on his YouTube channel Cheeky Cheeka.
“Where did Harshit Rana come from? He was so poor in the IPL. He is being managed. He had an economy rate of 10 in the IPL. What message are you giving to Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj?” he remarked, highlighting what he sees as a questionable call by the selectors.
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India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav, however, defended the decision during the squad announcement. He backed Harshit’s potential, recalling the pacer’s impactful showings in the limited opportunities he has received at the international level.
“I think he is doing really well in the IPL and in the games he has played for India. I remember that concussion replacement game in Pune, and he also won a Man of the Match in his last T20I. We know he has the skill to deliver for India in this format,” Suryakumar Yadav explained.
Apart from Harshit’s inclusion, Kris Srikkanth also raised concerns about the team balance. He questioned the decision to slot Shivam Dube at No. 8, suggesting that Washington Sundar would have been a more logical pick due to his all-round value.
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“They will make Tilak Varma the sixth bowler. Is Abhishek Sharma going to bowl or Shivam Dube? He hardly bowled in the IPL. If you needed someone at No. 8 who can bat and bowl, Washington Sundar was ideal. Shivam Dube at No. 8 makes no sense,” he added.
