Social media criticism bothered Harshit Rana; he was a little nervous and sad: Ajinkya Rahane

Former Indian batter and analyst Ajinkya Rahane has revealed that Harshit Rana was bothered by the social media criticism during the IPL 2025 season, adding that he was a little nervous and sad after his under-par performances.

For the unversed, Rahane captained Harshit Rana at the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise in the IPL 2025 season. Rahane stated that Rana, while bothered, 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.

Harshit, who attended the post-match press conference after India’s four-wicket victory in the first ODI against New Zealand, has disclosed that the team management has advised him to work on improving his all-round skills.

"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.

In the first ODI, New Zealand batted first after losing the toss, managing 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 pivotal 29-run knock off 23 balls.

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