The India National Cricket Team has been asked to bowl first after the Bangladesh National Cricket Team won the toss as the two teams kick-started their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign on Thursday (February 20) in Dubai. Shockingly, Gautam Gambhir picked Harshit Rana over Arshdeep Singh for India’s tournament opener against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
India captain Rohit Sharma went with three spinners, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja, as they picked only two fast bowlers, Mohammed Shami and Harshit Rana, for their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against the Tigers. The duo will be assisted by Hardik Pandya.
After the Men in Blue unveiled their playing XI for the match, some fans have been hoping that Gautam Gambhir’s decision to prove right to pick Rana ahead of the in-form and more experienced Arshdeep Singh for their first match in the ongoing prestigious tournament.
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On the other hand, many Indian cricket fans went berserk at Gautam Gambhir for running favoritism in the national team, questioning the coach’s decision to pick the Delhi lad over Arshdeep. While some are calling Gambhir a “biased coach,” some are saying favoritism is at its peak in the Indian cricket team. They are just failing to digest how the left-arm pacer can be overlooked for Rana.
Here's how fans reacted to Harshit Rana's selection over Arshdeep Singh:
Hope He do Well & Prove GG Decision Correct To pick Him Ahead Of Arshdeep ?....... #arshdeepsingh #ChampionsTrophy #ChampionsTrophy2025 #BCCI #Harshitrana #IndvsBan #Gambhir pic.twitter.com/Py0KapFDEL
— ???? ??ℕ??? (@iamajayjangirr) February 20, 2025
A guy who helps you to win a World Cup recently and our premium armour in the absence of bumrah.... Couldn't find his place in playing 11 despite in the squad first ... Just because coach #gautamgambhir fav boy was some else... unreal stuff..feel for #arshdeepsingh
— thatguy☄️ (@msggvkrs) February 20, 2025
Why #ArshdeepSingh is not in the playing XI?Harshit Rana over Arshdeep? @GautamGambhir#ICCChampionsTrophy #IndvsBan
— बाबा (@iBeing_Gaurav) February 20, 2025
World Cup winning bowler makes way for Harshit Rana, Injustice to Arshdeep Singh Clear favoritism for Harshit Rana #IndvsBan#arshdeepsingh #championstrophy pic.twitter.com/Zl4efSu9FK
— CricBrunch (@CricBrunch) February 20, 2025
@ImRo45 @GautamGambhir how on the earth #Harshitrana is better than #arshdeepsingh Biased team selection at its peak. #pathetic #indiancricketteamisfraud #Indiancricketteam #BCCI
— Jay Sor (@jay_sor_444) February 20, 2025
Kaha tha na ki #ArshdeepSingh ka khelna bhi sure nhi h #ChampionsTrophy2025 agar ye biasedness nhi h toh phir kya h???#India #Bangladesh t.co/5IgGGvqhmv
— THOR (@unlshdbst) February 20, 2025
INDIAN MANAGEMENT ISN'T EASY TO UNDERSTAND- Harshit Rana got selected in the squad as Bumrah replacement ahead of M Siraj (No Sense)- Harshit Rana playing against BAN ahead of inform left arm pacer Arshdeep Singh. (Can't Digest)#HarshitRana #ArshdeepSingh #INDvsBAN #INDvBAN pic.twitter.com/kck0GJkFRP
— Priyanshu Kumar (@priyanshusports) February 20, 2025
No arshdeep . Gautam Gambhir is totally biased for Harshit Rana #ChampionsTrophy #ChampionsTrophy2025 #IndvsBan #arshdeepsingh t.co/2ORKOGxWa0
— Navneet Anand (@demonnavneet98) February 20, 2025
With this kind of performance...how can you bench himHe is our best bowler in absence of bumrah #arshdeepsingh #IndvsBan pic.twitter.com/pTf4jEtHPf
— Vishal Kumar (@vshalkr04) February 20, 2025
Harshit Rana playing over Arshdeep Singh ?♂️?♂️Seriously dropping Arshdeep Singh for Harshit Rana Favouritism At Its Peak.#ChampionsTrophy2025 #ArshdeepSinghpic.twitter.com/zkdtjpi8pr
— FREE HIT (@FREEHIT06) February 20, 2025
I still don't know, How Harshit is better than Arshdeep, Arshdeep bowled well in last match against England, who will take wickets in powerplay today ??#INDvBAN#ICCChampionsTrophy
— VK45 (@sportslovervk45) February 20, 2025
2nd Best Bowler after Bumrah this country have is Arshdeep Singh and they benched him for Harshit Rana!??♂️Liked GG before but he is completely biased towards KKR players! This is really shocking decision! #INDvBAN
— Kumar Gourav (@TheKumarGourav) February 20, 2025
To be continued...
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