Shashi Tharoor’s Harshit Rana Tweet Backfires Massively – Internet Can’t Stop Laughing

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor faced online backlash after a social media post criticising India’s team selection for the second ODI against Australia. Tharoor questioned the decision to pick pacer Harshit Rana over spinner Kuldeep Yadav, citing Australia’s Xavier Bartlett’s early wickets as proof of poor selection.

“So Xavier Bartlett took just four balls to show the Indian selectors the idiocy of their decision to leave out the most potent match-winner in their squad, @imkuldeep18, in favour of a journeyman pacer like Rana. It was wrong to omit Kuldeep in England & it is absurd not to pick him in Adelaide. Awful!” Tharoor posted on X.

So Xavier Bartlett took just four balls to show the Indian selectors the idiocy of their decision to leave out the most potent match-winner in their squad, @imkuldeep18, in favour of a journeyman pacer like Rana. It was wrong to omit Kuldeep in England & it is absurd not to pick…

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 23, 2025

However, he appeared to confuse Bartlett, a fast bowler, with former spinner Xavier Doherty. Fans quickly pointed out the blunder, reminding him that Bartlett’s role mirrored Rana’s, not Kuldeep’s. India and Australia both fielded four pacers in the match, while Axar Patel and Washington Sundar handled spin duties. The post soon went viral, drawing light-hearted trolling from users.

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Xavier barlett is a fast bowler
Kuldeep is a chinaman

What did you have for drinks last night Shashi the hangover seems to have kicked in.

— Rohit Mundra (@RohitMu91645791) October 23, 2025

Bartlett isn’t a spinner . That’s Xavier Doherty

— Ashutosh Joshi (@JoshiAsh) October 23, 2025

While I am in favour of Kuldeep's selection, there is no comparison between Kuldeep & Bartlett. The former is a wrist spinner & latter is a seam bowler for whom these wickets are made.

— Sushant Chaturvedi (@ShawshankOne) October 23, 2025

India trail 0-1 in the three-match ODI series after a seven-wicket defeat in Perth. In the ongoing second ODI, India posted 264 for nine, as the hosts begin their chase to seal the series with one game still remaining.