Asia Cup squad: 'His case needs to be discussed' - Ex-India cricketer slams Harshit Rana's selection

NEW DELHI: The announcement of India’s Asia Cup squad on Tuesday has ignited intense debate, with Ajit Agarkar and his panel facing scrutiny over the omission of proven performers like Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.

One of the most polarising decisions has been the inclusion of Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Harshit Rana.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Former India opener Aakash Chopra has questioned the logic behind Rana’s selection, arguing that his record does not justify a place in the 15-member squad.

“Harshit Rana’s case is very interesting. His case needs to be discussed because he came as a concussion replacement for Shivam Dube once, picked up three wickets as well, and became the Player of the Match, which was brilliant, but what about before and after that?” Chopra asked on his YouTube channel.Rana’s IPL 2025 season was underwhelming, with 15 wickets at an economy rate of 10.18. Beyond that single standout international performance against England, Chopra felt the numbers painted a less convincing picture.

“The last IPL was extremely ordinary. His performances have not been very good. His numbers are not flattering. It doesn’t seem like his numbers are strong enough to deserve a place in the side,” he said.

Chopra also downplayed Rana’s chances of featuring prominently in the tournament. “The truth is also that he won’t get to play all matches. In fact, he might get to play even one match when Bumrah isn’t available. If he isn’t getting a chance to play, you say that whoever is sitting out doesn’t make a difference.”The former batter argued that Krishna, who won the IPL 2025 Purple Cap, and Siraj, with his recent form in England, were more deserving candidates. “You will find that Prasidh Krishna should have got a chance, or you could have thought about rewarding Mohammed Siraj, but the team has once again gone towards Harshit,” he concluded.