Social media criticism was bothering Harshit Rana: Ajinkya Rahane

Former Indian middle-order batter Ajinkya Rahane has disclosed that the Indian pace bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana was bothered by the social media criticism following a few below-par performances in IPL 2025. 

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Notably, Rahane captained Harshit Rana at the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise in the IPL 2025 season. The former cricketer went on to reveal that the all-rounder was a little nervous and sad, but he took motivation from the negative comments. 

“See, we actually spoke about social media when he was playing in the IPL last year. In certain matches, he did not do well, and I saw basically, a little nervous, a little sad. I was talking about it," Rahane said on Cricbuzz.

“It was bothering him. He said that people are talking about me, but that actually motivates me. This is what he said. When I see all the comments, when I see what they are writing about me, they don't know how hard I have worked in my bowling," he added.

On the other hand, Harshit, who attended the post-match press conference after India’s four-wicket win in the first ODI against New Zealand, has stated that the team management has asked him to work on improving his batting skills and emerge as an all-rounder at No.8.

"The team management wants to groom me as an all-rounder and it is my task to keep working on it," Rana told reporters.

"I am working on it in the nets as well, and it was a matter of confidence which KL (Rahul) bhai helped me with when I went in (to bat). I kept my focus on it and made the runs," he added.

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Delving into the details of the first ODI, New Zealand was tasked to bat first after losing the toss. They managed to post a good total of 300/8 in 50 overs. Harshit Rana scalped two important wickets in the first innings.

In the chase, India sealed the deal in 49 overs with four wickets in hand. Virat Kohli’s 93-run knock was pivotal as Men In Blue took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Rana, batting at No.7, played a valuable 29-run knock off 23 balls.

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