Gautam Gambhir rips apart ex-India cricketers for targeting Harshit Rana; 'his father is not an ex-chairman or an NRI'

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has ripped apart former India cricketers Krishnamachari Srikanth and Ravichandran Ashwin for targeting Harshit Rana after 23-year-old pacer was included for the Australian tour. Rana was included in both the ODI and T20I Indian squads, which fly out from New Delhi on October 15.

Having made his international debut lately in 2024 during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, the Delhi pacer showed signs of brilliance at the top level but is yet to cement his spot in the playing XI. Gambhir's remarks on Tuesday came after both Srikanth and Ashwin questioned Rana's selection on their YouTube shows.

“Look, it's a little shameful and I will be very honest with you. If you are criticising 23-year-olds to run your YouTube channel, which is unfair,” Gambhir said in support of Rana after India defeated West Indies 2-0 in a Test series. "His father is not an ex-chairman, or ex-cricketer or an NRI.

“He has played cricket on his own merit and he will continue to do so. Targeting individuals is not fair. Target people on their performance, and selectors are there for that job. If you say horrible things about a 23-year-old on social media, what does that do to his mindset?” added Gambhir, who celebrates his 44th birthday on Tuesday.

Urging former cricketers not to criticise the young players on the Indian team, Gambhir welcomed any criticism on himself, asserting he is fully capable of handling it. "If your kid plays cricket tomorrow, imagine a scenario where he gets abused. He is a 23-year-old kid, and not 33.

"Criticise me, I can handle it, but he is a 23-year-old boy, so that is something not acceptable. There should be a moral responsibility towards Indian cricket and you should not do these things to help run your YouTube channel. This is not only in Harshit's case, this is for others in future also," added Gambhir.