**‘Gautam Gambhir’s Favorite’: Srikkanth on Harshit Rana’s Australia Tour Selection**
*By Gaurav Tripathi | Oct 05, 2025, 12:23 pm*
Former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth recently took a light-hearted jab at pacer Harshit Rana after the Delhi bowler was named in both the ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming Australia tour. Rana has become a regular fixture in the national setup, largely due to the consistent backing of coach Gautam Gambhir.
### Srikkanth’s Quip on Rana’s Selection
On his YouTube channel, Srikkanth joked that Harshit Rana is clearly Gambhir’s favorite player. He humorously remarked that apart from captain Shubman Gill, Rana is always the first name on the team sheet.
“Harshit Rana is a permanent fixture because he is Gautam Gambhir’s favorite. He is always a certainty and the first name on the team sheet after Shubman Gill,” said Srikkanth.
### Harshit Rana’s Impressive Stats
Rana has justified his inclusion with notable performances. He has taken 10 wickets from five ODIs at an average of 20.70, and in three T20 Internationals, he has picked up five wickets at an average of 22.40.
### Rana Set to Make His Australian Debut?
Harshit Rana made his ODI debut earlier this year against England and has been a regular in the squad, especially in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. With Bumrah being rested for the ODI leg of the Australian tour after playing consecutive Asia Cup and West Indies Tests, Rana has a golden opportunity to showcase his skills on Australian soil.
### Selection Debate: Nitish Kumar Reddy Picked as Hardik Pandya’s Replacement?
Alongside Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy was also named in the ODI squad. However, Srikkanth questioned the logic behind Reddy’s selection, expressing doubts about his role as a proper all-rounder on Australian pitches.
“Where did Nitish Kumar Reddy come from? If you ask them, they’ll say he’s Hardik Pandya’s replacement. But the actual replacement for Hardik is Ravindra Jadeja, not Reddy,” Srikkanth commented.
### Nitish Kumar Reddy’s Background and Experience
Despite Srikkanth’s criticism, Nitish Kumar Reddy does bring some valuable experience in Australian conditions. He made his Test debut during India’s challenging Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign in 2024-25. While the team struggled overall, Reddy’s individual performances won praise from fans and experts alike. This experience could prove beneficial for him on the upcoming tour Down Under.
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With the Australian tour approaching, all eyes will be on young pacer Harshit Rana to see if he can live up to the expectations and justify his place in the squad, while Nitish Kumar Reddy will look to prove his worth as a genuine all-rounder in unfamiliar conditions.
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