He was added in the Indian team on the back of his IPL 2024 numbers, when he took 19 wickets in the season.
Cricketer turned commentator Subramaniam Badrinath expressed his disappointment after the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee named Harshit Rana in the India squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. According to the former Indian player, Rana’s selection ahead of Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj is a clear case of favouritism.
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The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bowler had an ordinary outing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. He scalped 15 wickets at an average of almost 30 and an economy of over 10. He has played only one T20I so far, against England earlier this year. His figures were 4-0-33-3.
Prasidh Krishna, on the other hand, grabbed the Purple Cap in the IPL 2025. He collected 25 wickets at an average of under 20 and an economy of 8.27.
“There is no justifiable answer to this. This is purely due to the likability factor. Everyone knows who likes Harshit Rana, because of which he keeps getting picked in the team. He is coming off a poor IPL season, whereas Prasidh Krishna has done brilliantly in the IPL and the England series,” Badrinath said on his YouTube channel.
Badrinath also spoke about the exclusion of Mohammed Siraj from the India squad of the Asia Cup 2025. Siraj had a great time during the recently passed five-match Test series against England, where he picked up 23 wickets.
“I can’t understand how he [Rana] came into this team. This is definitely a poor selection. Mohammed Siraj has such great numbers and is someone who gives his heart out. Even if we can give the benefit of the doubt for his non-selection as workload management, the next in the pecking order should have been Prasidh Krishna,” he added.
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It was back in 2022 when Rana started playing in the IPL. The 23-year-old pacer made headlines when he took 19 wickets during the IPL 2024 while playing for KKR. He ended the season as the fourth-highest wicket-taker of the cash-rich league.
On the back of his great outing, he was added to the Indian team in 2024. The young pacer has played for India across all three formats of the game. In a total of two Test matches, Rana has accumulated four wickets. In the 50-over format, the right-arm pacer has taken part in five games, picking up 10 wickets.
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