The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially added fast bowler Harshit Rana to Team India’s squad for the Test series against England, starting June 20 at Headingley. However, the decision has not gone down well with a large section of cricket fans, who have openly criticized India head coach and the BCCI for ignoring Anshul Kamboj, a standout performer in recent India A games.
Anshul Kamboj ignored despite impressive performance
Kamboj had made a compelling case for selection with his performances in the unofficial Tests for India A against England Lions, where he picked up five wickets and even scored a crucial half-century. In contrast, Rana managed just one wicket in the only unofficial Test he featured in.
There were reports suggesting the Indian team management was keen on integrating Kamboj into the senior set-up, especially given the swing-friendly English conditions, but the move never materialized. In fact, Kamboj has reportedly been released from the squad, much to the disbelief of fans.
Bias accusations fly as fans slam inclusion of Harshit Rana in India squad
Many fans believe that Rana’s inclusion is influenced by his association with the Kolkata Knight Riders, the IPL franchise where Gautam Gambhir had served as mentor. The fast bowler has also been visibly backed by Gambhir during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and domestic campaigns.
This marks Gautam Gambhir’s first major selection controversy as India’s new head coach. While the official statement says Rana was part of the India A squad and has now linked up with the senior team, fans are far from convinced, pointing to Gambhir’s visible preference for players he has previously worked with.
With the series set to begin at Headingley, a ground known for aiding fast bowlers, many believe Kamboj’s skills would have been better suited for the conditions.
Also READ: 3 reasons why Shubman Gill will be a successful Indian captain in the England tour
Here’s how fans reacted:
Anshul Kamboj should have been added to the squad. Don’t understand this obsession with Harshit Rana #ENGvIND
— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) June 16, 2025
Adding Harshit Rana and sending Anshul Kamboj back is just pure politics. This is just so sad and disappointing.#ENGvsIND
— IPL (@WatchIPLvideos) June 18, 2025
Anshul Kamboj:
– 5 wkts, Avg: 26 vs ENG Lions
– 79 wkts, Avg: 22 in FCHarshit Rana:
– 1 wkts, Avg: 99 vs ENG Lions
– 48 wkts, Avg: 27 in FC
– 4 wkts, Avg: 51 vs AustraliaAnd guess who is selected for the senior team for the ENG series? pic.twitter.com/FlXefffkT9
— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) June 17, 2025
Anshul Kamboj :-
Ranji 24 –
Inning – 12
Wkt – 17
Eco – 3.13Duleep 24 –
Inn – 5
Wkt – 16
Eco – 3.19Ranji Elite 24-25 –
Inn – 12
Wkt – 34
Eco – 2.80IND A –
Inn – 3
Wkt – 5
Eco – 3.05
With Bat – 76 RunsEven After Performing So Much, GG Is Still Doing Favouritism Then BCCI🖕 https://t.co/N3PjbYSXIE pic.twitter.com/tCBzeV5rwK
— Aufridi Chumtya (@ShuhidAufridi) June 17, 2025
🚨 Anshul outperformed Rana — but still out.
England Tour Stats:
Anshul Kamboj vs Harshit Rana
5 wkts @ 26.2. | 1 wkt @ 99
76 runs (HS 51*) | 16 runsWhere’s the merit, Coach GG? pic.twitter.com/3MJPRfo5d9
— Abhinav MSDian™ (@Abhinav_hariom) June 16, 2025
Anshul Kamboj took 34 wickets in the Ranji Trophy this year and also performed well in India A and IPL.
Still Gambhir did not keep A Kamboj as backup bowler for India on England tour but kept H Rana.
This shows how biased GG is,he is constantly showing bias.#INDvENG #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/lCQAy37hKn
— kuldeep singh (@kuldeep0745) June 16, 2025
This is the Gautam Gambhir era. Harshit Rana has been asked to stay in the England after doing nothing. But Anshul Kamboj who performed very well has left for India. If this is not favouritism and politics then what is?? pic.twitter.com/x9haQ990qd
— abhay singh (@abhaysingh_13) June 16, 2025
What is this? Why is this? Kamboj sent back but Harshit rana added because of the gambhir quota? If India lose this series Gautam Gambhir has to be sacked https://t.co/qiEsGkgdNU
— Akshit Dube (@akshit_dube) June 18, 2025
Justice for Anshul Kamboj. IF these clowns manage to sneak Rana into the 11 whilst benching Arshdeep, I will be hatewatching the entire series and I mean it. One can guess how low BCCI has fallen, if I- who dislikes Brendon Mccullum so much, am hate-watching his opponent team. https://t.co/1ESlNJnfOX
— Skanda (@Skanda1153) June 18, 2025
Gambhir quota se admission https://t.co/TuN9Rz5uHN
— 🧃. (@Secretindreams_) June 18, 2025
Quota system & politics on Top 🔝😎 https://t.co/dkRs7KOAhS
— Rahul Joshi (@rahulljoshiii) June 18, 2025
Anshul Kamboj was India A’s best bowler along with scoring a 50 with bat, Haryana’s highest wicket taker & had the best average among bowlers with 30+ wickets in 2024/25 Ranji Trophy, highest wicket taker in 2024 Duleep Trophy
And yet no place in the Test squad! https://t.co/3FeNV7w7qu pic.twitter.com/uDhn4HTHaA
— SIVY 🇮🇳 (@Sivy_Raina3) June 18, 2025
Gambhir kitna chalu hai hamesha squad mein naam nahi deta iska aur baad mein add karta hai , 😭
Gambhir quota on top https://t.co/XtC4IRT6fU— Myra⭐ (@myraaishi) June 18, 2025
This organisation is just a clown show at this rate. https://t.co/3A1aBFmPZN
— Giri (@giri_leo10) June 18, 2025
Shit decision! https://t.co/KReB96fRGa
— டகால்டி Murugan (@itismurugan04) June 18, 2025
Ami KKR quota 💜 https://t.co/qo0uMVH5Xt
— Ash (@22_leven) June 18, 2025
What has Harshit Rana done to get a place in the test side
No performance against England Lions,Was shit against Australia in Australia
Kamboj is much better
Gambhir pata nahi iske andar esa kya dekhta he jo itne chances de raha he
All format “mediocre” bowler he yeh https://t.co/dyQfCqlbUP— cricket ka kachra bazball (@fuckbazball) June 18, 2025
What else can be expected from ghamandi ghambir.
How this guy over arshdeep, siraj,. Biggest favouritism just to prove his ego.. https://t.co/jymBkcxcgB
— Puneet (@CrktPun) June 18, 2025
Delhi Lobby 💔 https://t.co/hStyjjImaE
— M.S. (@T20wc24India) June 18, 2025
I don’t want to but I think they will make me hate Harshit. Always liked him but this is too much https://t.co/ZfK0BgdyGg
— Smrutisikha Rath (@SmrutisikhaR) June 18, 2025
If anshul kamboj does debut vs england this series, it’s India’s loss not his.
GG should stop the KKR bias.
Harshit Rana isn’t good enough at the test level yet.— arnav. (@TheDrArnav) June 17, 2025
Anshul Kamboj performed better and made headlines with his performance but Gambhir asked Harshit Rana to stay back in England for upcoming India-England series as 19th member of the squad and Kamboj has been sent back to India.
Shameful as always from KKR lobby @GautamGambhir
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) June 17, 2025
Don’t understand this Harshit Rana obsession. Kamboj was a must inclusion and skillfully better.#ENGvIND
— Saptak Sanyal (@SanyalwithStats) June 16, 2025
Also READ: Dinesh Karthik predicts the 3 Tests Jasprit Bumrah will play in the England vs India 5-match series
