Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth slammed Harshi Rana’s selection in India’s Asia Cup squad. The Delhi fast bowler was included in India’s 15-man squad by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel on Tuesday.
Srikkanth highlighted that Rana had an economy rate of 10 in the IPL 2025 and thus selection is baffling. Rana scalped 15 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 29.86 and an economy rate of 10.18 in the last edition of the lucrative tournament for KKR.
The lanky fast bowler has scalped 10 wickets in six matches of the ongoing Delhi Premier League while leading North Delhi Strikers.
Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “Where did Harshit Rana come from? He was so poor in the IPL. He is being managed. He had an economy rate of 10 in the IPL. What message are you giving to Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj?”
Rana made his T20I debut against England and returned with figures of 3-33 in his quota of four overs.
Meanwhile, the former attacking opener said Washington Sundar would have been an ideal selection ahead of Shivam Dube for the number eight slot as the latter hardly bowled in the IPL. Sundar is part of the reserves for the Asia Cup.
“They will make Tilak Varma the sixth bowler. Is Abhishek Sharma going to be your sixth bowler or Shivam Dube? He hardly bowled in the IPL. This is an adjustment selection. If you needed someone who can bat and bowl at No. 8, Washington Sundar would have been ideal. Shivam Dube at No. 8 does not make any sense.”
India will open their Asia Cup campaign against the UAE on September 10.
India Squad for Asia Cup: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
