“Is Harshit Rana such a big player?” - Former India cricketer’s scathing attack on batting order after AUS vs IND 2025 2nd T20I

Former Indian captain Kris Srikkanth slammed the management for promoting Harshit Rana ahead of Shivam Dube in the batting order in the second T20I against Australia in Melbourne. The Men in Blue endured an unfathomable top-order collapse to become 49/5 in the eighth over after losing the toss and being asked to bat first.

In a surprising move, pace-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana came into bat at No.7, with Abhishek Sharma battling away in the other end. While the former scored a seemingly valuable 35 off 33 balls, it relegated a more regular batter in Dube to No. 8.

Rana also faced 33 out of the 47 deliveries in the partnership with a well-set Abhishek.

Talking about the move on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth said (16:21):

"You are demoralising the Dube's ability. And is Harshit Rana such a big player? He scored 35 but it was a scratchy knock. Only that one six was good other than a square cut. At 35 off 33, he ate up too many deliveries. The problem is Abhishek Sharma missed out on the strike a lot because of Harshit Rana. So many times he took a single off the last ball of the over. In that partnership of 47 deliveries, Harshit Rana played 33 and only 14 for Abhishek Sharma."

He added:

"Because of this, Abhishek Sharma did not get the strike and lost his flow also. So what's the use? People can say he scored 35 and it was invaluable. It was not an invaluable 35. He was just there and hit that one six. He was just surviving and escaping otherwise. Ultimately it's the captain's call. Gambhir can only suggest. So not sure whose decision this was but it was a very odd decision."

While Rana helped India get past 100, they eventually folded for a sub-par 125 in the 19th over.

"You are demoralizing the player's confidence" - Kris Srikkanth

Shivam Dube was left with less than five overs to bat in the Melbourne T20I [Credit: Getty]

Kris Srikkanth believes demoting Shivam Dube to No. 8 in the batting order will only demoralize the left-hander's confidence. The 32-year-old recently played a crucial knock of 33 from 22 deliveries in the 2025 Asia Cup final against Pakistan at No. 6.

Yet, with under five overs remaining when he walked into bat in the Melbourne T20I, Dube lasted only two deliveries and was dismissed for four.

"It is unclear whether Dube is playing as a batter, bowler or fielder. In the end, they've made him like a nobody with this move. It's not right because you are demoralizing the player's confidence. It's not good for Dube and the Indian Cricket team. It looked like the Indian management thought Dube was the Impact Player in the IPL," said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).

He continued:

"They kept waiting for Kuhnemann to send him to bat. Are you playing with the Impact Player rule? This is a T20I and not the IPL, where you wait for the spinner and send an Impact Player. It is bad thinking and bad planning. Shivam Dube should bat irrespective of the bowler or situation of the game. He is capable of playing. Is Shivam Dube such a bad player? It's better off if he doesn't even bat if it's going to be at 8."

Following India's forgettable batting display, the Aussies completed the run chase with ease in a mere 13.2 overs to take a 1-0 series lead.