IND vs WI: “Criticising 23-year-olds to run your YouTube channel…"- Gautam Gambhir slams Kris Srikkanth for 'favourite player' comment for Harshit Rana

Gautam Gambhir said Harshit Rana has made it to Indian Cricket Team on merit.

Indian Cricket Team’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has slammed former India selector Kris Srikkanth for his comments on Harshit Rana after the latter was picked for the upcoming white-ball tour to Australia. Gambhir also backed Rana’s selection in the squad, saying that he has made it to the national team on merit.

After the right-arm pacer was picked in India’s squad in both ODI and T20I series against Australia, Srikkanth joked in a YouTube video that Rana is Gambhir’s favourite, which is why he is the first player on the teamsheet. His comments went viral among cricket fans and they started bashing Rana on social media.

Many fans also trolled for Rana being the favourite player of Gambhir and enjoying the latter’s favouritism. Since making his international debut in 2024, the 23-year-old has played across all three formats.

If you are criticising 23-year-olds to run your YouTube channel, that is unfair: Gautam Gambhir

During the post-match press conference of the second test between Indian Cricket Team and West Indies Cricket Team on Tuesday, October 14, Gambhir said that it was shameful to target a 23-year-old player for YouTube views without naming Srikkanth. He also added that Rana has made it to the national team on merit.

“Look, it’s a little shameful and I will be very honest with you. If you are criticising 23-year-olds to run your YouTube channel, that is unfair. His father is not an ex-chairman, or ex-cricketer or an NRI. He has played cricket on his own merit and he will continue to do so,” he said.

“Targeting individuals is not fair. Target people on their performance, and selectors are there for that job. If you say horrible things about a 23-year-old on social media, what does that do to his mindset?” he added.

Gambhir also reckoned that criticising young players like Rana is not acceptable and people should have moral responsibility towards Indian cricket.

“If your kid plays cricket tomorrow, imagine a scenario where he gets abused. He is a 23-year-old kid, and not 33. Criticise me, I can handle it, but he is a 23-year-old boy, so that is something not acceptable. There should be a moral responsibility towards Indian cricket and you should not do these things to help run your YouTube channel. This is not only in Harshit’s case, this is for others in future also,” Gambhir remarked.

Meanwhile, India defeated West Indies by seven wickets in the Delhi test to register a 2-0 clean sweep in the series. Earlier, the Shubman Gill & Co. demolished the visitors by an innings and 140 runs in the first test.

Now, the Men in Blue are set to clash with Australia in their next assignment. Both sides will clash in three ODIs and five T20Is during the campaign, which will begin on October 19 with the first ODI in Perth.

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