India, Oct. 9 -- Harshit Rana has come under scrutiny after getting a spot in India's white-ball squads for the Australia series, with questions of favouritism resurfacing in Indian cricket circles. Despite being among the few all-format players in the current setup, his recent performances haven't fully justified his selection. The pacer has struggled for consistency, particularly in red-ball games in Australia and England, where batters often took him on. Many have also pointed to his Kolkata Knight Riders connection with Gautam Gambhir - now India's head coach - who mentored him during KKR's 2024 title-winning campaign, suggesting that past association may have played a role in his selection.

Veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin qu...