Experienced Indian slow bowler Ravichandran Ashwin shared a forthright opinion regarding the display of young fast bowler Harshit Rana during India’s Super 4 match against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2025. The game, held at the Dubai International Stadium on Friday, became a high-scoring nail-biter before being settled in a Super Over, where India ultimately secured a significant win. However, attention was also drawn to the pace attack, notably Rana, whose lack of experience became apparent under pressure.
Ravichandran Ashwin slams Harshit Rana after Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 struggle
Harshit conceded a substantial 54 runs from his four overs, taking only one wicket. In his initial three overs, the 23-year-old seemed out of sync and struggled to adapt to the favorable batting conditions, as Pathum Nissanka dominated him effectively. Nissanka’s smooth batting easily capitalized on errors in line and length, making Rana’s strategies quite obvious. His final over offered some relief, where he removed the threatening opening batsman, but Ashwin was still unimpressed by his overall performance.
Speaking on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat, the veteran spinner was direct in his assessment. He characterized Rana’s bowling decisions as “amateurish” and emphasized that the young bowler needs to adapt quickly at this level. “Harshit Rana consistently followed the same approach, alternating between a fast ball and a slower one. Nissanka anticipated this easily and took advantage. At this level, such predictability will negatively impact a bowler and the team’s prospects. He needs to learn from this,” Ashwin commented.
The former Indian great also emphasized that although a lack of recent match practice can affect accuracy, the recurring mistakes against Sri Lanka were very noticeable. He mentioned that India regained command during the middle overs and through Arshdeep Singh’s critical performance in the Super Over, but Rana’s showing highlighted concerns about India’s depth in their pace bowling options.
India’s nerve-steadying comeback despite Rana’s spell
Despite Rana’s costly overs, the Super 4 match became one of the most exciting finishes in the tournament. Following Nissanka’s powerful century that gave Sri Lanka a strong position in the chase, India fought back with disciplined bowling during the middle overs. Rana’s final over was crucial in dismissing Nissanka at a critical point, preventing the game from completely slipping away. This late effort kept India competitive, leading the match into the Super Over.
In the decisive over, Arshdeep displayed composure by limiting Sri Lanka to just two runs. India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav acted swiftly, hitting the first ball to secure the win. While the Indian team celebrated the victory, questions linger regarding the composition of the playing XI and Rana’s role for the remainder of the tournament.
Rana, who replaced Shivam Dube in the XI for this game, now faces scrutiny regarding his position. With Dube anticipated to return for the crucial final against Pakistan, the young fast bowler may need to step aside. India are likely to favor more seasoned players in significant matches, considering the narrow margins in the Asia Cup.
Ashwin’s candid critique serves as a reminder of the pressures in international tournaments—every error is highlighted, and every chance matters. For Rana, the experience against Sri Lanka could still be a valuable lesson if he uses it to improve. However, as Ashwin stated, he must “really learn” to avoid predictable strategies if he aims to secure his future at the highest level.
