Ravichandran Ashwin gives Gautam Gambhir's ‘main man’ belt treatment for 'amateurish performance' vs Sri Lanka

India National Cricket Team bowling legend Ravichandran Ashwin was not at all impressed with the performance of the right-arm quick Harshit Rana in the match against the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team in the Asia Cup 2025.

Ravichandran Ashwin slammed Harshit Rana, who is regarded as one of the favourite players of head coach Gautam Gambhir, and labelled his performance against Sri Lanka quite "amateurish".

Harshit Rana's Horror Show vs Sri Lanka in Asia Cup 2025

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi pacer Harshit Rana didn't have a good outing in the last Super Four game of the Asia Cup 2025 against the Charith Asalanka-led side.

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And it wouldn't be wrong to say that the 23-year-old nearly cost India the match at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday, September 27. He bowled all four overs of his quota against Sri Lanka and ended up with the figures of 4-0-54-1, being the most expensive Indian bowler of the night with an economy of 13.50.

In his first over, he gave 12 runs and was belted for 16 runs in the next one. His third over was also quite bad as he leaked 16 runs. Harshit Rana's battle with Pathum Nissanka was an enthralling one to watch as the batter took the pacer to the cleaners after the latter showed unnecessary aggression.

Despite his disastrous show with the ball in the first three overs, Suryakumar Yadav handed him the ball to defend 12 runs in the final over. Rana bounced back in the 20th over and dismissed Pathum Nissanka on the first ball and ensured that the match ended up being a tie and headed into a super over.

But the mistakes made by Harshit against Sri Lanka were really amateurish - Ravichandran Ashwin

Speaking on his YouTube channel while reviewing the most thrilling match of the Asia Cup 2025, Ravichandran Ashwin didn't hold back and blasted Harshit Rana, labelling his performance as "amateurish."

"I just want to speak about Harshit Rana. He has played a few games. He hasn't played a few games. It is not easy to play one match and then sit out. It could really be flattening for your confidence, and also be a bit rusty. But the mistakes made by Harshit against Sri Lanka were really amateurish," said Ashwin on his YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat'.

He should really learn from this - Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin highlighted how Harshit Rana was bowling slower balls after normal fast-paced deliveries and wasn't showing any smartness. The bowling great urged Rana to learn from his mistakes against Sri Lanka and improve the way he mixes up his deliveries.

"I thought the game was done in the powerplay, but India made a stellar comeback after that. Harshit Rana was cranking up the speed.

"He hit him on the head, and then he followed it up with a slower ball. Nissanka played it beautifully. Harshit Rana was just bowling slower balls after delivering a fast-paced delivery. One fast, one show and one fast and one slow. That is a really amateurish way of playing cricket. He should really learn from this," he added.

Meanwhile, India won the match against Sri Lanka in the Super Four, thanks to the premier pacer Arshdeep Singh's bowling masterclass, and finished unbeaten in the Super Four stage.

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