Spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin has shifted gears and stood up for young pace bowler Harshit Rana, urging against personal attacks in public debates. His remarks came after a heated protest by India coach Gautam Gambhir in response to criticism of Rana’s selection.

Ashwin, who had earlier questioned Rana’s inclusion based on form, now argued that criticism should focus on performance — not personal insults. He stressed that crossing the line into personal attacks changes the essence of debate. “I’ve faced criticism throughout my career,” Ashwin said, “but I never held a grudge as long as it did not become personal.”

He went on to express empathy for Rana, highlighting the potentially damaging impact of harsh online trolling on a young player’s confidence and mental state. “Criticize skill, not character,” he urged, remarking that negativity sells views but can harm real people.