Gautam Gambhir Retaliates Against Srikkanth for Shameful Remarks on Harshit Rana Not Even Spare a 23-Year-Old Kid to Operate Your YouTube Channel

Ex-India opener and current Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir has again been in the middle of a hot debate, this time standing up for young seamer Harshit Rana following remarks made by former selector and player Kris Srikkanth that Gambhir called “shameful.” The row broke out after Srikkanth criticized Rana’s behavior on the field, with Gambhir jumping to the defence of the 23-year-old bowler against what he called unnecessary and sensationalist remarks designed to increase online clicks.

The Incident is traced to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season when Harshit Rana’s boisterous celebrations and belligerent attitude on the field had created as much appreciation as criticism. Though fans were awe-struck by his confidence, some of his former teammates—Srikkanth included—believed that the young boy had overstepped the boundaries of sportsman spirit. Srikkanth reportedly lambasted Rana’s attitude on his YouTube channel, describing it as “arrogant and disrespectful.

But Gambhir, never one to mince words and stand for nothing, was quick to respond. Tweeting from social media, the KKR mentor criticized Srikkanth for going for a young player. “It’s shameful to see a former India cricketer not even giving a 23-year-old kid a chance to run his YouTube channel. Criticism is okay, but personal attack on a youngster trying to make a name for himself is not right,” Gambhir tweeted.

Gambhir’s Resounding Defense of Young Talent

Gambhir, who has long been critical of developing young Indian cricketers, stressed that individuals such as Harshit Rana require guidance, not public denigration. “We are speaking about encouraging young talent, giving them belief, and then the very same individuals go out and dismantle them for clicks and views,” he continued. “What sort of message are we projecting to the next group of cricketers?”

His comments soon picked up steam online, and many fans and ex-players found themselves in his corner. Social media was rife with hashtags such as #GautamGambhir and #HarshitRana, as users praised Gambhir for having his player’s back. Some even went so far as to say that incidents like these prove the growing chasm between ex-players’ traditional expectations and the aggressive contemporary attitude of young people in cricket.

Srikkanth’s Comments and the Fallout

Srikkanth, former India captain and 1983 World Cup winner, had condemned Rana’s celebration, saying the young bowler “needs to learn humility before success goes to his

head.” He contended that cricket is a game that requires discipline and respect for others, and that such an attitude does not help the sport.

Whereas a number of fans concurred with Srikkanth’s traditionalist perspective, others believed that he was being too harsh in his criticism, particularly when he ridiculed Rana’s facial expressions and movements on the pitch. A majority viewed Gambhir’s reaction as reasonable considering that public forums such as YouTube and social media broadcast every comment to millions of subscribers.

Gambhir’s Continued Position on Protecting Players

It is not the first time Gautam Gambhir has been vocal to shield young players. Throughout his stint as KKR mentor, he has persistently stressed the need for mental health, team culture, and looking after youngsters in the good and bad times. His leadership has been characterized as tough but very protective — a throwback to his playing days when he was famous for his fire and aggression on the ground.

“Such players like Harshit Rana inject enthusiasm, passion, and fire. That’s what contemporary cricket is all about,” Gambhir expressed in a recent interview. “If someone has gone overboard, that’s for the team management and match referee to sort out, not retired players like us to take advantage on our YouTube channels.”

Fans Come to Gambhir and Harshit’s Defense

The cricketing fraternity has reacted with a mix of responses, but Gambhir’s strong stand in Rana’s defense has obviously struck a chord with most. Young cricketers and well-wishers appreciated his act of standing up for what they described as “unfair targeting of newcomers.”

A supporter said, "This Is the reason why players adore Gambhir. He defends his boys like a leader.” A fan wrote, “Constructive criticism is acceptable, but personal humiliation in the interest of content is not.”

The Bigger Picture

The Gambhir–Srikkanth incident highlights a larger problem in contemporary sports — the thin line between analysis and hype. With social media websites providing easy reach to people, several past players have become content creators. However, as Gambhir highlighted, the onus with influence cannot be ignored, particularly when young players are concerned.

As the dust settles, this much is certain: Gautam Gambhir’s impassioned defense of Harshit Rana has once again cemented his image as a leader who never hesitates to stand up for what he thinks is right — on or off the field