Former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth has lauded Harshit Rana, weeks after his rant against the latter’s selection in the Indian team across formats went viral, saying that he was ‘superb’ in the third
ODI against Australia, where the youngster picked four wickets.
Rana produced the best bowling figures of his young international career, steering India to a nine-wicket consolation victory over Australia.
Srikkanth, who had questioned Rana’s selection for the Aussie white-ball tour, was full of praise for the pacer’s performance.Srikkanth’s criticism became so viral that it even extracted a reaction from head coach Gautam Gambhir, who said that one shouldn’t target a youngster to run a YouTube channel.
“Harshit Rana bowled superbly. Taking four wickets in an ODI is a big achievement. My favourite was the wicket of Owen. It was a superb delivery and Rohit took a great catch,” Srikkanth said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
“He (Rana) bowled a terrific line and length. Last match, he got clobbered at the death, but this game, he bowled very well even at the death. He did not bowl short today and did not try too many slower ones,” Srikkanth said.
“So today, Harshit Rana deserves all the praise. I am very happy for you. Yes, I criticised you a lot, but at the end of the day, you have done very well. He has got his confidence back from the last match after scoring with the bat and from his first spell with the ball,” Srikkanth added.
The former player lauded India’s decision to field three spinners in the playing XI and commended the entire bowling unit for their collective effort in the Sydney ODI.
“It was a very good decision to play three spinners. But I did not understand why Axar Patel bowled only seven overs even today. Not sure why Prasidh Krishna was brought back to bowl with Axar not completing his ten overs,” Srikkanth said.
