India, Oct. 19 -- India head coach Gautam Gambhir's strategy to send Harshit Rana at No. 9 in the team's seven-wicket loss in the rain-curtailed ODI series opener in Perth on Sunday was called out. Gambhir was fiercely ordered to "stop shielding" Rana, a comment which came just days after the two-time World Cup winner lashed out at the fast bowler's critics in a presser in Delhi.

Taking to social media, former Indian batter Priyank Panchal called out Gambhir's decision to use Rana at No. 9 in the batting line-up and not No. 8. He questioned that if the Delhi speedster is at all being included for his handy batting ability down the order, then he should be "exposed" much earlier, and hence asked the management to not shield him with the i...