'Gautam Gambhir is completely biased’ - India coach blasted for choosing Harshit Rana over Arshdeep Singh in CT 2025

The India National Cricket Team has been asked to bowl first after the Bangladesh National Cricket Team won the toss as the two teams kick-started their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign on Thursday (February 20) in Dubai. Shockingly, Gautam Gambhir picked Harshit Rana over Arshdeep Singh for India’s tournament opener against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

India captain Rohit Sharma went with three spinners, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja, as they picked only two fast bowlers, Mohammed Shami and Harshit Rana, for their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against the Tigers. The duo will be assisted by Hardik Pandya.

Fans slam Gautam Gambhir for picking Harshit Rana over Arshdeep Singh for their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener

After the Men in Blue unveiled their playing XI for the match, some fans have been hoping that Gautam Gambhir’s decision to prove right to pick Rana ahead of the in-form and more experienced Arshdeep Singh for their first match in the ongoing prestigious tournament.

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On the other hand, many Indian cricket fans went berserk at Gautam Gambhir for running favoritism in the national team, questioning the coach’s decision to pick the Delhi lad over Arshdeep. While some are calling Gambhir a “biased coach,” some are saying favoritism is at its peak in the Indian cricket team. They are just failing to digest how the left-arm pacer can be overlooked for Rana.

Here's how fans reacted to Harshit Rana's selection over Arshdeep Singh:

Hope He do Well & Prove GG Decision Correct To pick Him Ahead Of Arshdeep 🧐....... #arshdeepsingh #ChampionsTrophy #ChampionsTrophy2025 #BCCI #Harshitrana #IndvsBan #Gambhir pic.twitter.com/Py0KapFDEL

— 𝔸𝕁𝔸𝕐 𝕁𝔸ℕ𝔾𝕀𝔻 (@iamajayjangirr) February 20, 2025

A guy who helps you to win a World Cup recently and our premium armour in the absence of bumrah.... Couldn't find his place in playing 11 despite in the squad first ... Just because coach #gautamgambhir fav boy was some else... unreal stuff..feel for #arshdeepsingh

— thatguy☄️ (@msggvkrs) February 20, 2025

Why #ArshdeepSingh is not in the playing XI?

Harshit Rana over Arshdeep? @GautamGambhir#ICCChampionsTrophy #IndvsBan

— बाबा (@iBeing_Gaurav) February 20, 2025

World Cup winning bowler makes way for Harshit Rana,

Injustice to Arshdeep Singh
Clear favoritism for Harshit Rana #IndvsBan#arshdeepsingh #championstrophy pic.twitter.com/Zl4efSu9FK

— CricBrunch (@CricBrunch) February 20, 2025

@ImRo45 @GautamGambhir how on the earth #Harshitrana is better than #arshdeepsingh
Biased team selection at its peak. #pathetic #indiancricketteamisfraud #Indiancricketteam #BCCI

— Jay Sor (@jay_sor_444) February 20, 2025

Kaha tha na ki #ArshdeepSingh ka khelna bhi sure nhi h???? #ChampionsTrophy2025 agar ye biasedness nhi h toh phir kya h???#India #Bangladesh https://t.co/5IgGGvqhmv

— THOR (@unlshdbst) February 20, 2025

INDIAN MANAGEMENT ISN'T EASY TO UNDERSTAND

- Harshit Rana got selected in the squad as Bumrah replacement ahead of M Siraj (No Sense)

- Harshit Rana playing against BAN ahead of inform left arm pacer Arshdeep Singh. (Can't Digest)#HarshitRana #ArshdeepSingh #INDvsBAN #INDvBAN pic.twitter.com/kck0GJkFRP

— Priyanshu Kumar (@priyanshusports) February 20, 2025

No arshdeep . Gautam Gambhir is totally biased for Harshit Rana #ChampionsTrophy #ChampionsTrophy2025 #IndvsBan #arshdeepsingh https://t.co/2ORKOGxWa0

— Navneet Anand (@demonnavneet98) February 20, 2025

With this kind of performance...how can you bench him
He is our best bowler in absence of bumrah #arshdeepsingh #IndvsBan pic.twitter.com/pTf4jEtHPf

— Vishal Kumar (@vshalkr04) February 20, 2025

Harshit Rana playing over Arshdeep Singh 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

Seriously dropping Arshdeep Singh for Harshit Rana Favouritism At Its Peak.#ChampionsTrophy2025 #ArshdeepSinghpic.twitter.com/zkdtjpi8pr

— FREE HIT (@FREEHIT06) February 20, 2025

I still don't know, How Harshit is better than Arshdeep, Arshdeep bowled well in last match against England, who will take wickets in powerplay today ?😴#INDvBAN#ICCChampionsTrophy

— VK45 (@sportslovervk45) February 20, 2025

2nd Best Bowler after Bumrah this country have is Arshdeep Singh and they benched him for Harshit Rana!🤷🏻‍♂️

Liked GG before but he is completely biased towards KKR players! This is really shocking decision! #INDvBAN

— Kumar Gourav (@TheKumarGourav) February 20, 2025

Meanwhile, India’s unlucky streak at the toss continues as they have now lost 11 consecutive tosses in ODIs, starting from the 2023 World Cup final. Now, India equaled the unwanted record of the Netherlands, who also lost 11 tosses in a row between March 2011 and August 2013.

Bangladesh’s decision keeps Rohit Sharma's plan intact

After losing the toss against Bangladesh, Indian captain Rohit Sharma said that he would have also fielded first as the ball comes on better under lights in Dubai. However, the Bangladesh skipper, Najmul Hossain Shanto, ensured Rohit’s plan should be intact by opting to bat first.

Rohit Sharma said at the toss, “All looking good. Everyone is fit and fine to go. Let's hope we start well. There is no looking back; every game becomes very important in this tournament. Only Varun Chakravarthy misses out from the last ODI we played (against England); Ravindra Jadeja comes back, and Arshdeep Singh misses, and Mohammed Shami comes back.”

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Mohammed Shami, Harshit Rana gives India a dream start

Well, in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami opened the bowling attack for the Men in Blue, and the seasoned opener made an early impact, as he dismissed Soumya Sarkar in the last ball of the first over to give his team a dream start against Bangladesh in Dubai.

In the very next over, Harshi Rana delivered a major blow to the Tigers, as he removed their captain Najmul Hossain Shanto for a two-ball duck. Rana bowled a full delivery outside off, and Shanto went for the drive but failed to keep it down and Virat Kohli jumped at cover-point to ensure his exit.

Bangladesh is currently in deep trouble as their captain departed for a duck, with the score reading 2/2 in just 10 deliveries against India in their first game in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, UAE, on Thursday.