A fresh controversy has erupted in Indian cricket over the selection of Harshit Rana ahead of Anshul Kamboj for India’s Test squad against England. The decision, taken by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel, has sparked widespread debate among fans, experts, and former players, with many questioning whether merit has taken a backseat in the current team-building process.
Anshul Kamboj, the Haryana pacer, has been in red-hot form in domestic cricket. He made headlines by taking all ten wickets in an innings during a Ranji Trophy match — a feat achieved by only two others in the tournament’s long history. His consistency and skill set, especially in seam-friendly conditions, made him a strong candidate for the England tour. Even Chennai Super Kings’ coach Stephen Fleming praised Kamboj, calling him “an ideal bowler for English conditions” due to his deceptive pace and control.
Despite his record-breaking form, Kamboj was overlooked in favor of Harshit Rana, a young pacer from Delhi who has had modest success at the domestic level and struggled during India A’s recent tour of England. Rana, who is also closely associated with Kolkata Knight Riders and Gautam Gambhir, has raised eyebrows for being retained in the squad despite a poor show in recent matches. Critics have dubbed this a case of “IPL favoritism,” suggesting that Rana’s selection has more to do with his connections than his performances.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra expressed confusion over the decision, highlighting that Kamboj’s superior numbers and recent form should have made him the obvious choice. Fans, too, took to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, accusing the selectors of bias and questioning the transparency of the selection process. Many pointed fingers at Gambhir’s growing influence in Indian cricket, calling the move a “KKR quota” pick.
The focus has now turned toward Ajit Agarkar and the BCCI selectors, who are being asked to clarify their decision-making process. While Rana may offer some continuity, critics argue that it’s unfair to deny deserving players like Kamboj an opportunity based on internal politics or franchise favoritism.
As India prepares for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the next World Test Championship cycle, the controversy underscores the need for clear, merit-based selection policies. Until then, the question that many are asking remains unanswered: What actually goes on behind closed doors when it comes to Indian team selections?
