Former India opener Aakash Chopra has raised serious concerns about the Indian men's Test team management’s handling of their pace bowling resources, especially regarding Anshul Kamboj and Harshit Rana.
Chopra questioned the lack of clarity and consistency in selection decisions. He pointed out that while Kamboj delivered a superior performance during the India ‘A’ series against the England Lions, the team had initially retained Harshit Rana in the senior squad as injury cover, sending Kamboj back home. Strangely, Kamboj was later recalled for the fourth Test at Old Trafford, even though Rana had been the preferred choice earlier.
“It’s very interesting. There was a lot of chatter about Anshul Kamboj. He did well for India A, but the team management chose Harshit Rana first. Anshul was sent home and now his name has popped up again,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
The fourth Test, beginning Wednesday, July 23, has exposed India’s injury-struck bowling unit. Key players like Nitish Kumar Reddy (left knee injury), Arshdeep Singh (left thumb blow), and Akash Deep (groin strain) are all unavailable. These developments have forced the selectors to revisit options like Kamboj, but Chopra criticized the selection logic behind these decisions.
“If you selected Harshit Rana earlier for continuity, then why not now? What changed? If Anshul Kamboj had better performances for India A, why was he ignored then and picked now? There’s no transparency. Maybe the management knows, but we aren’t told anything,” Chopra added.
Anshul Kamboj, 24, has been in stellar form in domestic cricket. He has taken 55 wickets in his last 11 first-class matches, including a rare 10-wicket haul in a single innings. With the bat, he’s contributed crucial lower-order runs, including a half-century in the second India ‘A’ match against the England Lions.
Chopra’s remarks reflect a growing sentiment that the selectors and team management must communicate their reasoning more clearly — especially when young players’ careers are involved, and consistency in selection is critical during a time of frequent injuries and rotating squads.
