"Koi mama chacha ka rishta toh hai nahi" - Former KKR star hits out at critics of Gautam Gambhir and Harshit Rana ahead of IND vs SA 2025 series

Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) keeper Manvinder Bisla lashed out at fans for targeting Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir and fast bowler Harshit Rana. He highlighted how a narrative of favouritism has been created on social media.

Bisla reckoned Harshit has usually faced flak from "non-KKR" fans. He remarked that Gambhir hasn't been biased towards the seamer and suggested that there was no truth to the favoritism chatter.

Speaking on the 'India Cricket Canteen' YouTube channel, Bisla said:

At 1:10:45, "The ones opposing Harshit Rana must be non-KKR fans. I am saying this honestly. Everyone relates it this way that Gautam has a KKR background, that's why he is supporting Harshit. Koi mama chacha ka rishta to hai nahi (Gambhir is not his uncle or something). Everyone thinks there might be a KKR angle."

Notably, Harshit Rana and Gautam Gambhir previously worked together in the Indian Premier League (IPL), during the latter's stint as the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor. Harshit later made his Team India debut across three formats.

Certain fans have claimed that Harshit has gotten multiple opportunities because of Gambhir's backing. The fast bowler was part of India's ODI and T20I teams in the recently concluded Australia tour.

Harshit was the leading wicket-taker of the ODI series, bagging six scalps across three games. He was picked in the playing XI ahead of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh for the first two T20Is, but failed to claim a single wicket. Notably, he played a crucial 35-run knock off 33 balls in the second fixture.

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"It was someone else who set up the match" - Manvinder Bisla on Rohit, Virat Kohli's knocks overshadowing Harshit Rana's heroics in AUS vs IND 2025 3rd ODI

Manvinder Bisla pointed out that Harshit Rana was instrumental in India's nine-wicket win over Australia in the third ODI. The right-arm seamer picked up a four-wicket haul in the contest.

Bisla mentioned that Harshit's performance was overshadowed by Rohit Sharma's (121* off 125) and Virat Kohli's (74* off 81) batting exploits. He commented in the same video:

At 1:08:22, "India beat Australia in Sydney. All the influencers on social media, cricketers, non-cricketers, everyone spoke about RoKo. Did anyone speak about Harshit? If he had not set it up, what would have happened? Maybe RoKo would have still won us the match. But it was someone else who set up the match. If someone made a video on Harshit, would he have gotten those many views?"

Harshit is part of the India A squad for the upcoming three One-Dayers against South Africa A. The first match will be played in Rajkot on Thursday, November 13.

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Edited by Aditya Suketu Desai