Ramesh argued the team management employs "different yardsticks for different players".
Ramesh highlighted that rushing a player back prematurely from a major knee surgery inevitably triggers secondary muscular injuries, which was proven correct when Rana was ruled out of the final two T20Is against England due to a hamstring injury.
Ramesh argued the team management employs "different yardsticks for different players", noting that established superstars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, as well as crucial players like Hardik Pandya and Mohammad Shami, were strictly ordered to prove their fitness in domestic cricket before being reconsidered for national selection.
“How did Harshit Rana get selected directly to the Indian team without proving his fitness anywhere after surgery? If you haven’t fully recovered from a knee surgery, then it leads to a hamstring or quad injury next, as has happened with him. It’s clear he didn’t return to the Indian team at 100% fitness. It’s just an evidence on how there are different yardsticks for different players. India will produce results again only if they correct this issue,” Ramesh said on his YouTube channel.
“The fact they rested him for the Zimbabwe tour and the squad was announced before this injury made it clear that they rested him knowing that he won’t be able to play back-to-back series. This is not about Harshit Rana’s ability,” he added.
Days before the start of India’s triumphant T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, Harshit Rana was ruled out of the showpiece tournament due to a knee injury.
Rana had sustained the injury during the T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai. He left the field after experiencing pain in his knee and pulling out of his bowling stride twice in one over. Mohammed Siraj later replaced him in the T20 World Cup squad.
Subsequently, Rana underwent a surgery and an intense rehab, resulting in him missing the entire IPL 2026 season for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). While the right-arm quick joined the Indian squad for the last ODI against Afghanistan in Chennai last month, he made his return to the field in the ongoing UK tour.
Apart from Rana, mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy was ruled of the last two T20Is against England owing to a hamstring injury. As a result, Prasidh Krishna and Washington Sundar made it to India’s playing XI for the fourth T20I in Bristol on Thursday (July 9).
“India were forced to play him (Sundar) despite England having only two left-handers because of Varun Chakaravarthy’s injury. It’s also clear that India don’t trust Ravi Bishnoi,” Ramesh stated.
India went down by nine wickets in the penultimate T20I, thereby conceding an unassailable 0-3 lead to England in the five-match series.
Speaking after the game, skipper Shreyas Iyer said the current Indian side was in a "transition phase" and mistakes were to be expected as several youngsters continue to adapt to overseas conditions.
“See, this is the transition phase and we will be making lot of mistakes. You see a lot of youngsters playing here in these conditions for the first time. So mistakes will definitely make them realize how important it is to adapt and have that awareness when you come in the overseas conditions,” Iyer quoted at the post-match presentation.
“Certainly. It's important that you learn quickly from your mistakes so that the team also benefits eventually out of it. And I'm sure that there are quick learners in the team. I'm sure they will assess themselves and get back stronger in the next game,” he further remarked.
The inconsequential fifth and final T20I will be played in Southampton on Saturday (July 11).