[WATCH] IND vs NZ 2026: ‘I get disturbed by reading stories about Harshit Rana’ - Veteran commentator slams social media noise around young pacer
India were set a target of 301 by New Zealand in the first ODI at Vadodara.
Veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle hit the bullseye with his observations about one of India’s rising stars, Harshit Rana. In the fast-paced world of social media, narratives around Indian cricket often spread quicker than the action on the field.
Bhogle is known for his calm, analytical approach and recently expressed his frustration over the noise surrounding the young pacer. His comments reflect a growing sentiment among experts that social media chatter is beginning to overshadow the actual on-field performances of players.
During the first ODI between India and New Zealand in Vadodara on Sunday, Bhogle spoke candidly about the kind of baseless commentary he often encounters about Rana on social media, highlighting the need to focus on facts rather than online narratives.
"I must admit I get disturbed by reading stories about Harshit Rana. I have had to tune my algorithm so that I don't have to read all that nonsense. He is among the leading wicket-takers for India," said Bhogle in the commentary box during the first ODI vs New Zealand.
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Bhogle’s remarks highlight the disturbed state of the social media landscape, where Rana, an expressive personality, often finds himself at the centre of unnecessary controversies. Despite dismissing the online noise as nonsense, Bhogle was quick to praise Rana’s meteoric rise in international cricket. Since making his Test debut in Perth in 2024, the young pacer has emerged as one of India’s rare all-format performers.
In 2025, Rana finished as India’s leading wicket-taker in One Day Internationals, claiming 20 wickets over the course of the year. He was also a key member of India’s Champions Trophy winning squad. Rana continued to make steady progress in T20Is, picking up seven wickets in 2025, while also developing his game in the Test arena. Additionally, he has contributed valuable runs down the order, further underlining his growing importance to the Indian team.
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