In the ongoing second T20I between Australia and Team Indiaat the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), when the latter lost five wickets at a score of 49 in 7.3 overs, Harshit Rana was sent before Shivam Dube. Harshit’s job was to support opener Abhishek Sharma in the crunch situation. The 22-year-old strove to stabilise India’s innings with his batting effort but he consumed 33 balls to hoard 35 runs from his bat. His innings was studded with four boundaries (three fours and a maximum).
However, despite Rana’s efforts, netizen censured Gambhir for promoting the youngster in the batting order over Shivam Dube. An X user named Sandarbh Raj wrote, “Gambhir sent Harshit Rana before Shivam Dube just to prove his decision (choosing Rana over Arshdeep
singh) right and ended up wasting 33 balls. If Dube had gotten that much time to settle in, he would’ve definitely scored more runs than Rana did in those 33 balls.”
Below are some of the X posts on Harshit Rana's innings in 2nd T20I vs India:
However, some netizen were also seen defending Gambhir for his move. Gautam Gambhir sent Harshit Rana to bat when India was in trouble and he made 35 from 33. "India was 45-5 when Harshit came and did a decent partnership with Abhishek Sharma. Harshit is a number 8 batter like Marco Jensen who can be so effective on South African pitches with good bounce and batting skills. Still people will come and troll him about strike rate when every batter failed- A star in the making," remarked a netizen named Venky Mama on X.
Team India bundled out on 125 in 2nd T20I vs Australia at MCG
India failed to counter Australia's disciplined bowling as the visitors were folded on 125 in 18.4 overs. Except for Abhishek Sharma, no batter looked comfortable against the Aussie bowling attack. Abhishek scored 68 off 37 and his innings included 10 boundaries (eight fours and two maximums).
India will bank on their veteran pacer Jasprit Bumrah to defend the low total. As of writing, Australia are 9/0 after 1.4 overs, with Mitchell Marsh (3* off 5) and Travis Head (6* off 5) at the crease.
