Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons Harshit Rana should receive the team’s backing as he has performed well in limited opportunities he has received. Rana is often trolled on the social media platforms but Chopra said the Delhi cricketer has not come through any recommendation.
Rana returned with figures of 2-40 in his quota of four overs against the home team in the third T20I. The Delhi pacer accounted for previous match hero Jacob Bethell and Tom Banton on consecutive deliveries in the 12th over of the innings.
However, Rana’s efforts went in vain as India suffered an ignominious loss of 125 runs after they were skittled out for a paltry score of 76 in the run chase of 202. This is India’s biggest loss in T20Is.
“His numbers are not that bad. He has done decently in whatever chances he has gotten. He keeps getting trolled unnecessarily for everything. He has been sent up the order a few times. He almost won the match in Ireland. There shouldn’t be such a big ruckus. He is talented,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“He is a performer. He has not come through recommendation because he is playing and performing well. He bowls and bats, and although he dropped a catch, he is also a decent fielder. He is a contributor. The hate Harshit Rana gets is a little too much,” he added.
The renowned commentator questioned the team’s think tank for promoting Harshit Rana ahead of Shivam Dube in the previous game.
“I was also surprised. Firstly, you losing five wickets in the Powerplay was surprising, and then for Harshit to come to the ground in the Powerplay itself, that was a bit of a shock. Send Shivam Dube. You were losing in any case. So sending Harshit Rana so early, it didn’t make a lot of sense,” he responded.
“Will that impact Shivam Dube’s confidence? I don’t think so. The fact is that we were all out for 76 and the entire team folded up in 11.4 overs. In such a scenario, what bad would anyone feel, and what dent would it have been on his confidence because someone went to bat ahead of him?” Chopra observed.
The fourth T20I between England and India will be played at Bristol, County Ground on Thursday.
