BCCI backs Gambhir and Rana after ex-cricketer accuses India coach of favouritism: 'Should be done responsibly'

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has offered support to India head coach Gautam Gambhir and pacer Harshit Rana at a time when the two find themselves being subjected to incessant trolling on social media and being targeted by a former India cricketer.

Former India captain Kris Srikkanth ignited a war of words with Gambhir after accusing him of favouritism by repeatedly selecting him in India’s squads across formats in a video posted on his YouTube channel.

The 65-year-old went to the extent of calling Rana the “one permanent member in the team”, someone who was repeatedly selected ahead of senior pacer Mohammed Shami and who has played two Tests while left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh is yet to make a single appearance in the format.

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Former India opener Gambhir hit back at Srikkanth by terming his comment “shameful” during the post-match press conference after his team’s victory over West Indies in Delhi on Tuesday. And offering support to Gambhir as well as Rana was BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla, adding that criticism of the team’s selection should be done “responsibly”.

“Gautam Gambhir is right. If someone has any complaints about the players, then it should be done responsibly. This will bring the players’ morale down. It is the job of the team to select players. So, before you say anything about the players, you should think about how much responsibility you should take,” Shukla told news agency Asian News International.

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Since Gambhir succeeded Rahul Dravid as India head coach in July last year, Kolkata Knight Riders pacer, Rana has been part of two high-profile tours, playing one-Test each in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia as well as the inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England earlier this summer.

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He was also part of the Men in Blue’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy as well as last month’s Asia Cup, making a couple of appearances in each multi-nation tournament. And while he was left out for the recently-concluded Test series against West Indies, which India swept 2-0, he has been included for the upcoming white-ball tour of Australia, where Shubman Gill will be making his debut as India ODI captain.