When Harshit Rana first took the field during the Perth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, some fans speculated about how much his selection was influenced by Gautam Gambhir also having previously been mentor for KKR, where Rana had played the 2024season. Subsequently, his controversial role as Shivam Dube’s concussion substitute drew attention, and within two months, he alsomade his ODI debut—raising eyebrows across the cricket world.
Many questioned Rana’s inclusion in the playing XI, especially as he was picked ahead of Arshdeep Singh. However, by the end of the match, both pundits and fans were convinced that Rana belonged in the Indian dressing room.
“I believe that people will keep on talking,” Rana asserted in the post-match press conference after India secured a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. “I just want to play, good or bad. I’m not bothered. I just want to deliver for my country. I don’t pay attention to those talks.”
Economy vs Impact
Bowling figures: 7 overs, 53 runs, 3 wickets, economy rate of 7.57.
On paper, Rana’s numbers may not seem impressive, especially after he was taken apart by Phil Salt in a brutal sequence—6, 4, 6, 4, 6—conceding 26 runs in a single over. However, his return in the 10th over changed the course of the game, as he dismissed both Ben Duckett and Harry Brook in quick succession.
“There are always ups and downs in cricket,” he said. “I only wanted to focus on my length, bowl where I needed to, and I got the reward for that later. I didn’t do anything different in my second spell, just focused on hitting the right areas.”
For those who didn’t watch the game and judged the bowler purely by the economy rate, the numbers might be misleading. Online debates broke out about Rana’s expensive spell, but what truly mattered was his ability to break partnerships at crucial junctures in the game, putting pressure back onto the opposition and shifting the momentum in India’s favour.
One of Rana’s most commendable traits is his confidence — many bowlers crumble mentally after conceding runs. But he remains focused on his strengths, bowling consistently and with discipline. Suchresilience is rare, to say the least. Many exceptional bowlers have the skills but not many have the mental temperament to make it big on the international stage.
In fact, in an exclusive chat with RevSportz ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, former Indian bowling coach Bharat Arun spoke about Rana’s potential.
“His confidence. He is very sure of his ability and isn’t scared of the big stage,” remarked Arun. “He is a tall bowler and generates bounce. What goes in his favour is also his ability to get movement. Someone who gets bounce and movement is rare. Having seen him very closely, his confidence is something that has stood out for me.”
Adding to the significance of his performance, Rana revealed in the post-match chat that he had only found out about his inclusion in the team upon arriving at the venue.
“You get to know only when you come to the ground,” he said. “Mentally, I’m always prepared whenever I step in. I know that I can play anytime.Anything can happen. So, mentally, I always keep myself prepared.”
Rana, who is just 23, has impressed with his ability to soak in pressure and bounce back after setbacks, a skill that was put on display on his ODI debut. His ability to deliver crucial breakthroughs, in addition to his self-belief – something he credits Gambhir for – is an invaluable asset for the Indian team. Rana has displayed that he has what it takes to stick around the playing group. He has the mentality of a big match player, someone who doesn’t merely participate, but also influences the outcome of a game.
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