Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin criticized the young pacer for his lackluster performance in the Super Four clash of Asia Cup 2025. Ravichandran Ashwin described Rana’s mistakes as “amateurish” and emphasized that the bowler still has a lot to learn.
Rana, who replaced Shivam Dube in India’s playing XI, had a forgettable outing. After India posted a formidable total of 202, expectations were high for the bowlers to maintain the momentum. However, the Indian bowling attack struggled, and Rana, in particular, looked off-colour. In his first three overs, he failed to contain the Sri Lankan batters, conceding plenty of runs and putting India under significant pressure.
He managed a minor resurgence in the final over, when Sri Lanka needed 12 runs to win. Rana dismissed Pathum Nissanka for 107 and gave away 11 runs, forcing the match into a super over. Overall, he finished with figures of 1/54 from four overs.
Ravichandran Ashwin Criticizes Harshit Rana for Amateurish Mistakes Against Sri Lanka
Ravichandran Ashwin, while discussing Harshit Rana’s performance, acknowledged that transitioning between playing one game and then sitting out isn’t easy for any bowler. However, he didn’t hold back in pointing out that the pacer’s mistakes against Sri Lanka were “amateurish.” Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin said:
“I just want to talk about Harshit Rana. He has played a few matches but also missed some. Playing one game and then sitting out can be tough—it can dent your confidence and make you a bit rusty. But the mistakes Harshit made against Sri Lanka were really amateurish.”
Ashwin elaborated on one particular issue: Harshit’s use of slower balls immediately after fast deliveries. He called this an amateur approach that the young bowler needs to correct.
“I thought the game was decided in the powerplay, but India staged a remarkable comeback. Harshit was bowling at pace, even hitting the batter on the head, and then immediately followed it with a slower ball. Nissanka played that beautifully. Alternating fast and slow like that is a really amateurish way to bowl. He needs to learn from this.”
Ashwin also highlighted Arshdeep Singh’s impressive performance in the Super Over, where he conceded just two runs and picked up two wickets, helping India secure a comfortable victory.
