The announcement of India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup has stirred controversy, with several eyebrows raised over the selection of pacer Harshit Rana. Critics, including former cricketer Aakash Chopra, have openly questioned whether Rana’s recent performances justify his inclusion in the main squad over more proven performers like Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
A SURPRISE PICK: HARSHIT RANA IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Rana’s selection came as a surprise to many, particularly considering his underwhelming statistics in IPL 2025. The Kolkata Knight Riders pacer managed 25 wickets in the season but conceded runs at an economy rate of 10.18 — far from ideal in a tournament dominated by power-hitting.
Despite having only one T20I appearance for India, Rana has been chosen ahead of more established names. His solitary international outing came as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube against England, where he impressed with a three-wicket haul and won the Player of the Match award. However, critics argue that one standout performance is not enough to warrant a place in a prestigious tournament like the Asia Cup.
AAKASH CHOPRA’S CONCERNS: "Numbers Don’t Justify the Call-Up"
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra didn’t mince words when expressing his scepticism over Rana’s inclusion.
> “Harshit Rana’s case is interesting, no doubt. He came in as a concussion substitute and grabbed his opportunity well. But what about his performances before and after that? His last IPL season was extremely ordinary, and his numbers aren’t strong enough to demand a place in the national squad,” Chopra stated.
He went on to say that Rana might not even feature in most of the matches, as he is likely to sit out unless Jasprit Bumrah is rested during group-stage fixtures against relatively weaker opponents.
WHERE ARE SIRAJ AND PRASIDH KRISHNA
What’s fueling the backlash further is the exclusion of fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna from the main 15. Siraj, who has consistently performed for India, particularly in overseas conditions, was expected to be part of the squad. Prasidh Krishna, meanwhile, ended IPL 2025 as the Purple Cap winner, emerging as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker.
Chopra expressed his disappointment on this front as well:
> “If you look at current form and recent records, Prasidh Krishna absolutely deserved a spot in the main squad. Mohammed Siraj, too, has been in fantastic rhythm. Instead, the selectors have once again backed Harshit, which is a surprising move,” he added.
SELECTION PANEL UNDER FIRE
The decisions made by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee have come under intense scrutiny, especially with key players like Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal also missing out. While some believe this could be part of a larger long-term strategy focused on building a bench, others view it as a snub to consistent performers.
With the Asia Cup serving as a key preparatory event for the upcoming T20 World Cup, every selection is being closely analysed. Whether Rana lives up to the faith shown in him or not, only time will tell but for now, the debate rages on.
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