'Can't play together': Shubman Gill, Gautam Gambhir slammed for 'injustice' in team selection

NW DELHI: Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has urged the team management to include either Harshit Rana or Nitish Kumar Reddy in the playing XI, while criticising the decision to leave out Kuldeep Yadav from the first two ODIs against Australia. India suffered a two-wicket defeat in the second ODI, giving Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with the final game set to be played in Sydney on Saturday.

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Kaif shared his thoughts on his YouTube channel, expressing doubts about Harshit Rana’s bowling strengths and pointing out the lack of a standout delivery in his arsenal.


"I'm following Harshit Rana a lot, but he does not have a strength delivery. It's not like he has a solid outswinger or an inswinger. When we speak about Siraj or Bumrah, they have their strengths, like their yorkers, pace, or slower ones. But I can't figure out what Harshit Rana's strength is. It's not like he bowls over 140. Play either one of Rana or Reddy, because both of them can't play together. Kuldeep Yadav sitting out for this is a clear injustice," Kaif stated.

Kaif further explained that while Rana performs effectively when the required run rate is high, he struggles when batters adopt a more cautious approach.

"When the required rate is 9 or 10 runs per over, there Harshit Rana is effective because his strength is change of pace. But when batters are playing like Test cricket when the required rate is around 5 or 6 runs per over, the bowler has to bring more skills to outfox the batter when he is playing in 3rd gear."

Citing Adam Zampa’s match-winning spell as an example, Kaif said Kuldeep’s exclusion cost India dearly. Zampa took four wickets and was named player of the match in Adelaide.

"If Kuldeep was in the team, I guarantee you 100 percent that India would have won this game. When Zampa can come in and change the game by dismissing some big names, when there was grip and turn from the surface, then think what Kuldeep could have done against this inexperienced Australian middle order. This is a do-or-die match, you are not playing him, and Zampa, who was not even there in the last match, returned and took the man of the match. Kuldeep Yadav is a thousand times better bowler than Adam Zampa."

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