'Harshit Rana in ODIs is pure Gautam Gambhir quota' - India head coach accused of favoritism after pacer's call-up

The BCCI, on Thursday (July 18), announced India's ODI squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. India will be visiting Sri Lanka soon for three ODIs and as many T20Is.

The selectors have raised a number of eyebrows by including uncapped Harshit Rana in the squad. Although the right-arm pacer had performed well in this year's IPL, not many were expecting him to find a spot in the ODI series. In IPL 2024, Harshit Rana played a huge role in the Kolkata Knight Riders' triumphant campaign.

He finished the competition as the fifth-highest wicket-taker, taking 19 wickets in 11 games as KKR won the IPL after a long gap of 10 years. After doing well in the IPL, Harshit Rana initially failed to make the cut for the T20I series against Zimbabwe.

However, he was later added to the team for the first two games of the 5-match series after a few members failed to link up with the team in time following the T20 World Cup win.

Rana could not get a chance in the playing eleven for the series against Zimbabwe and is not included in the T20I squad for the Sri Lanka series. However, he has been named in the ODI squad. And the selection call has been drawing different kinds of reactions.

Here are some of the reactions to Harshit Rana's inclusion in the ODI team:

This is an injustice to Hardik Pandya. Yes this is coming from his biggest h@ter.

Wife betrayed, poor IPL, came back in WT20 and now lost captaincy. Stay strong, pandya!

Gautam Gambhir favours his favourite. Harshit Rana has been selected in ODIs. Lmao. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->n<!---->U<!---->g<!---->n<!---->t<!---->9<!---->L<!---->u<!---->8<!---->g

— Rajasthani Tau Ji (@Rajasthanii_Tau) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Bhai mene toh umeed Kari thi ki Gautam Gambhir ke aane se team selection sudhar jaega yaha toh aur bigad gaya
Performance Wale player include nhi
Ab player aur kya kare select hone ke liye KKR se khele RCB se khele ya MI se khele kyuki Harshit Rana ke selection se yhi lagta hi

— CRICKET24*7🏏🏏 (@PandeyWinner) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Worst team selection ... bcci Gambhir ke aage jhukh gya kya ... harisht rana team mai lekin mukesh nhi h jo ki itne saalo se sath h team ke totally partiality @<!---->r<!---->a<!---->w<!---->a<!---->t<!---->r<!---->a<!---->h<!---->u<!---->l<!---->9 @<!---->v<!---->i<!---->k<!---->r<!---->a<!---->n<!---->t<!---->g<!---->u<!---->p<!---->t<!---->a<!---->7<!---->3

— Sharma@nav (@Sharmanav2) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

#<!---->s<!---->h<!---->a<!---->m<!---->e<!---->o<!---->n<!---->b<!---->c<!---->c<!---->i #<!---->S<!---->h<!---->a<!---->m<!---->e<!---->O<!---->n<!---->Y<!---->o<!---->u @<!---->G<!---->a<!---->u<!---->t<!---->a<!---->m<!---->G<!---->a<!---->m<!---->b<!---->h<!---->i<!---->r @<!---->i<!---->m<!---->A<!---->a<!---->g<!---->a<!---->r<!---->k<!---->a<!---->r
Give me one reason why he is dropped?#<!---->P<!---->o<!---->l<!---->i<!---->c<!---->t<!---->s and personal grudges ruining his career..
Gambhir favoring Harshit Rana, Shreyas Iyyer🤡 p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->S<!---->9<!---->9<!---->5<!---->4<!---->A<!---->g<!---->R<!---->M<!---->j

— pratik_khedekar_ (@khedekarpratik7) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Iyer and Rana were the obvious inclusions as soon as Gambhir came but don’t understand Iyer Rahul and Pant as the middle order with only Axar to follow. h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->o<!---->d<!---->h<!---->k<!---->N<!---->5<!---->3<!---->N<!---->2<!---->C

— 📊 (@onfieldumpire2) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Bigger headline for me is Harshit Rana in ODIs. Doesnt help he plays for Delhi and KKR where he has a direct Gambhir connect.

Putting Hardik in team straightaway in T20 to play under Surya and Shubman is humiliation. They could have avoided such treatment to him.

Also goodbye…

— G. S. Vivek (@GSV1980) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Harshit Rana....Gambhir is here 🤣

Gill Vice captain 🙄 ?? h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->Y<!---->L<!---->x<!---->6<!---->b<!---->a<!---->s<!---->V<!---->E<!---->x

— BeHappyDude💃 (@behappydude11) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Ruturaj Gaikwad dropped.... Gambhir is starting politics in Cricket now!!! Harshit Rana is picked ahead of Avesh!!#<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->S<!---->L

— Suryansh (@Suryansh1329) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Complete favouritism from gambhir towards KKR players
What is harshit Rana doing in odi's?
Why is gill VC when hardik is in the team 😮‍💨

— jeet (@jeet34613985) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Harshit Rana in ODI's instead of T20's is a pure Gambhir quota 🤡🤡#<!---->I<!---->N<!---->D<!---->v<!---->s<!---->S<!---->L #<!---->G<!---->a<!---->m<!---->b<!---->h<!---->i<!---->r #<!---->B<!---->C<!---->C<!---->I

— DevaraCult⚔️⚔️ (@romeo33399) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Gambhir wants harshit rana for champions Trophy? h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->Q<!---->j<!---->9<!---->U<!---->j<!---->d<!---->r<!---->o<!---->B<!---->O

— poker__siva__ (@SivaMeena15682) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Bigger headline for me is Harshit Rana in ODIs. Doesnt help he plays for Delhi and KKR where he has a direct Gambhir connect.

Putting Hardik in team straightaway in T20 to play under Surya and Shubman is humiliation. They could have avoided such treatment to him.

Also goodbye…

— G. S. Vivek (@GSV1980) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Congratulations to Harshit Rana for getting selected in ODI Team for Srilanka tour.

He is the future 🦁🇮🇳 p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->t<!---->d<!---->A<!---->j<!---->O<!---->d<!---->I<!---->4<!---->d<!---->0

— कट्टर KKR समर्थक 🦁🇮🇳 ™ (@KKRWeRule) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

They picked harshit rana. We are going to witness some serious aggression this time. 🥵 h<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->T<!---->b<!---->u<!---->j<!---->z<!---->S<!---->2<!---->i<!---->y<!---->Y p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->i<!---->X<!---->B<!---->H<!---->J<!---->s<!---->3<!---->L<!---->v<!---->w

— Cheemrag (@itxcheemrag) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Well rewarded - Harshit Rana makes it to the ODI squad! p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->u<!---->D<!---->g<!---->v<!---->j<!---->V<!---->g<!---->X<!---->V<!---->a

— Bhartendu Sharma (@Bhar10duSharma) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Sanju Samson scored 100 in last Odi vs SA in Dec, misses out & Riyan Parag makes it in Odi Squad. Ridiculous

Ruturaj and Abhishek Sharma dropped from T20I team, weren't selected in Odi Team
Riyan Parag over both off them

Harshit Rana in Odis, when he has performed in T20Is…

— Rishabh Wadhwa (@Cric_Rishabh) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Harshit Rana? Gambhir has shown his presence as a coach.

— Santy (@Santy03_) J<!---->u<!---->l<!---->y<!----> <!---->1<!---->8<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have returned to the Indian ODI team for the upcoming series. While both the players were expected to be rested for the short series, they have made themselves available for India's first ODI assignment of the year.

Rohit will be leading the team while Shubman Gill has been named as his deputy. During the ODI World Cup last year, Hardik Pandya was the vice-captain of the team while KL Rahul had led the side when both Pandya and Rohit were not available for the series against South Africa in December last year. However, the selectors and the team management have given the responsibility to Gill.

Apart from Harshit Rana, Riyan Parag has also earned his maiden ODI call-up. The right-handed batsman made his debut in international cricket earlier this month during the T20I series against Zimbabwe. And although he failed to impress in his debut series, he has been given another chance. Shreyas Iyer has returned to the ODI team as well.