India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir on Tuesday retaliated against former captain Kris Srikkanth for claiming that pace bowler Harshit Rana was chosen for the ODI team for the Australian tour because he was his “yes man.”
On his YouTube channel, Srikkanth claimed that Gambhir was the sole reason Rana was in the national team.
“It’s shameful that someone wanting to run his YouTube channel is targeting a 23-year-old. If you want to target me, do it. I can handle it, but trolling a 23-year-old kid for YouTube views is shameful,” stated Gambhir during the press conference held in New Delhi after India defeated the West Indies 2-0 in the Test series.
“His (Rana’s) father is not a selector. He has played cricket on his own merit. Don’t target these young boys,” he added.
The second Test match in New Delhi saw India defeat the West Indies by 7 wickets.
Srikkanth had said that Rana’s friendship with Gambhir, which dates back to their time together with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, was the sole reason he was selected for the Indian ODI team against Australia.
“There is only one member, Harshit Rana…nobody knows why he is there in the team. Best is to be like Harshit Rana and be a constant yes man to Gambhir to be selected (in the side),” Srikkanth had said recently.
Since Gambhir took over last year, Delhi cricketer Rana has participated in two Test matches, five ODIs, and three T20 Internationals. He last appeared for India in an Asia Cup match that India won.
The three-match ODI series versus Australia begins on October 19.
