India vs Australia second T20 match is being played in Melbourne. Australia won the toss and decided to bowl first, which proved to be very good in the first 10 overs. The Indian team had lost the first 5 wickets till the score was only 49. Despite the continuous fall of wickets, Abhishek Sharma continued his stormy batting, but the most talked about person was Harshit Rana, who was sent to bat at number seven.

In the last one year, India’s batting order was completely set from top to bottom. In such a situation, Gautam Gambhir has invited criticism by sending Harshit Rana to the seventh position. The situation was such that Shivam Dubey had to sit on the bench because of Harshit. On social media, people have even started calling Gautam Gambhir the new Greg Chappell.

Gautam Gambhir got trolled

A fan wrote on social media that he is fed up with the partiality in the Indian team, because Harshit Rana is being given a chance by keeping Arshdeep out. One person wrote that I don’t know what kind of attachment Gambhir has with Harshit. People raised big questions on the question of sending Harshit to bat before Shivam Dubey.

Gautam Gambhir’s decision to change the batting order was even called a stupid decision. Another person said that Gautam Gambhir is slowly becoming Greg Chappell, whose aim is to ruin Indian cricket. He said that now that Harshit Rana has been sent to bat above Shivam Dubey, he hopes that Gambhir will be dismissed soon.

Mr. Gambhir is the new Greg Chappel here to ruin Indian Cricket.
Now Harshit Rana is sent before Shivam Dube.
I hope he gets fired soon. https://t.co/dU0Xteu2Qm

—Sahil Paudel. (@sahil_paudel) October 31, 2025

Idiotic decision by Gautam Gambhir to send Harshit Rana before Shivam Dube.#AUSvIND

— Papa ji (@netanyahu332) October 31, 2025

To see your Lord Greatest All rounder Harshit Rana play it was sold out

— Aman Gulati (@iam_amangulati) October 31, 2025

What was that batting plan, seriously?

Samson at 3 ahead of SKY, and sending Harshit Rana to bat when a proper batsman like Dube was available was even strange. Pure confusion out there. #INDvsAUS #StarNiAdugu@GautamGambhir

— LoL’ey (@LoL_bobbey) October 31, 2025

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When Harshit Rana was included in the Indian squad for the Australian tour, the selection committee and head coach Gautam Gambhir were criticized all around. When Harshit was badly beaten in the first ODI against Australia in Perth, Gautam Gambhir was once again taken to task. Now Harshit Rana has given a befitting reply to his and Gautam Gambhir’s critics with his performance. Rana took a total of 4 wickets in the third ODI and was also India’s most successful bowler in the match.

Harshit Rana silenced his critics

While making a sharp attack on Harshit Rana, veteran Indian cricketer Chris Srikkanth had said that Rana got a place in the team only because he supports Gautam Gambhir. On the other hand, Ravichandran Ashwin admitted that Harshit Rana has talent, but he questioned the decision of the selectors to give him continuous opportunities. On the other hand, Harshit was criticized a lot on the internet also.

Now Harshit Rana bowled 8.4 overs in Sydney, in which he gave runs at a good economy rate of 4.50. He was also India’s most successful bowler in Sydney, taking 4 wickets. In the match, Washington Sundar took 2 wickets, while Akshar Patel, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav took one wicket each.

When Gautam Gambhir heard the news of Harshit Rana being criticized, he defended the 23-year-old bowler. Gambhir said that a 23 year old young player should not be targeted.

Best performance of Harshit’s ODI career

This was Harshit Rana’s best performance in his ODI career of 8 matches so far. This is the first time that Harshit has taken 4 wickets in an innings. Before this, his best performance came against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy this year, when he took 3 wickets for just 31 runs in 7.4 overs. Now Harshit has taken 16 wickets in 8 ODI matches.

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