“He criticized me throughout my career…” - Ravi Ashwin comes out in strong support of Harshit Rana amid harsh criticism

Former Indian off-spinner Ravi Ashwin has come out in strong support of Harshit Rana, who has been constantly under harsh criticism on various social media platforms for being picked across formats despite underperforming. 

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin asserted that he was criticized by Sanjay Manjrekar throughout his career, but he never held any grudges against him. He also made it clear that as long as the criticism doesn’t get personal, he is fine with it.

“I have always reiterated that no player should be attacked below the belt. When the attack becomes too personal, the genre changes. I would like to talk about Sanjay Manjrekar, who has criticised me throughout my career. But I have never held any grudge against him. What they say might be right or wrong, as long as the criticism doesn't get personal, I am fine with it,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Furthermore, Ashwin requested fans not to take things on a personal level with cricketers and shatter their confidence ahead of the high-stakes games. He also added that fans should avoid consuming negative content. 

“Assume Harshit sees the reel in which he is being harshly criticised, and he is about to play a match for India, wouldn't he be shattered by this? And if his parents and friends see it, what will be their mindset? We can definitely criticise their skill, their style of cricket and the trade that they are plying. But it shouldn't get personal. It may be funny once or twice, but it shouldn't be a running theme. The reason they are doing this is that there is an audience for it. Negativity sells these days. They sell whatever is in demand. We should avoid consuming such content,” he added.

“Everyone's targeting Harshit Rana left, right and centre. Let me ask you one thing: if the same Harshit performs well next year, will the same people put him on the same pedestal and celebrate him?” asked Ashwin.

"I am certainly disappointed. My request through this channel has always been to see cricket as cricket. Don't buy or consume trash talk because that well could be your friend, your family, your son, your brother, your sister," he concluded.

Rana has so far played 10 international games, scalping 19 wickets across three formats. His most recent international game came against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2025 campaign, conceding 54 runs and picking up a wicket.

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