Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has opined that Harshit Rana was rightly added to India’s squad for the third ODI against Afghanistan. Though Rana didn’t get his chance in the playing XI in the final game, his inclusion in the squad was questioned by many.
A lot of the critics questioned how Rana was added to the Indian team after recuperating from an injury without proving his fitness by playing in the domestic circuit. However, Chopra highlighted that no tournament is currently being played at the domestic level and Rana must have passed the fitness tests at the CoE.
“Harshit Rana’s name has come in the Indian team. Someone was asking me how Harshit’s name came when he hasn’t played any domestic cricket. So let me just tell all of you that the rule to play domestic cricket is only applicable when domestic cricket is happening. Apart from that, you come after playing a few simulation matches in the COE, and it’s equal for everyone,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“I understand that Harshit Rana gets a lot of hate, and you might say that I am doing PR in this video. I am not doing PR. I am just explaining the protocol to you. The protocol is the same for everyone. You don’t like me saying this, but it’s the truth, and it feels bitter automatically,” he added.
The renowned commentator noted that talismanic players like Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya will directly play for India as there is no domestic tournaments going on.
“If Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya play now, they won’t get a chance to play anything in between, but they will straightaway walk into the team because you will already come after practising and doing match simulation in the COE. The same is true for Harshit Rana,” he said.
Chopra said the same rules are applicable for everyone in the Indian team.
“Whether you like him or you hate him, you will have to understand one thing. The rules will remain the same for everyone. Don’t focus on a specific person and follow the protocols. If domestic cricket is happening, you ask players to come after playing one or two matches, so that we get to know (about their fitness), but if domestic cricket is not happening, will he not play cricket for six months? It doesn’t make sense,” Chopra observed.
India will next take on Ireland in two T20Is.
