The Indian team has maintained the same bowling lineup for the Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh on Thursday, mirroring the combination used in the recently concluded ODI series against England, which consists of three spinners and three fast bowlers. Mohammed Shami is expected to lead the pace attack, accompanied by all-rounder Hardik Pandya. However, the selection of Harshit Rana as the second specialist pacer, instead of Arshdeep Singh, has sparked discontent among fans on social media.

Arshdeep was included in India's provisional squad for the Champions Trophy announced in January, while Rana was added to the team just before the deadline two weeks ago, following Jasprit Bumrah's withdrawal from the tournament. Rana made his debut in all three ODIs against England, where he took six wickets. Although he demonstrated his capability to bowl effectively and generate bounce, he faced challenges with the new ball, conceding 75 runs in eight overs during the powerplay throughout the series. In contrast, Arshdeep participated in only one match, the final ODI.

Despite the selection patterns observed during the England series suggesting that Gambhir would prefer Rana as the second pacer, this decision has incited anger among fans, who have accused the head coach of favouritism. It is noteworthy that the former India opener played a significant role in facilitating Rana's debut across formats since the conclusion of IPL 2024 when the young player was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders under Gambhir's mentorship.

Rana contributes to India's stunning powerplay show

Despite his lacklustre performance during the powerplay in the series against England, the team management placed their confidence in the Delhi fast bowler for the match against Bangladesh, whose opening batsmen are less aggressive compared to those of England.

Mohammed Shami initiated the collapse by taking the wicket of Soumya Sarkar in the first over, followed by Rana's dismissal of Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto on the fourth ball of the subsequent over. Shami added another wicket to his tally, while Axar Patel claimed two wickets in consecutive deliveries, leaving India in a commanding position as they reduced the opposition to five wickets for just 39 runs during the powerplay.y.

Read Also: Pakistan Names Fakhar Zaman's Replacement for Champions Trophy After Injury Blow

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!