Harshit Rana revealed that India’s team management sees him as a long-term all-round option after his calm yet impactful batting cameo helped India seal a four-wicket win over New Zealand in the first ODI in Vadodara.
Thrown into a tense situation after India lost three quick wickets in a chase of 301, Harshit Rana was promoted to No.7 due to Washington Sundar’s injury and responded with a vital 29 off 23 balls. His knock ensured the required rate stayed in check and allowed KL Rahul to finish the chase with composure. With no Hardik Pandya being among the major talking points from the India ODI squad for the series, Harshit stepped up to fill his gap.
Harshit Rana: “Team Management Wants To Groom Me As An All-Rounder”
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Harshit Rana opened up about the clarity he has received from the Indian setup regarding his role.
“Team management wants to groom me as an all-rounder. I’m giving more time to my batting at the nets,” Harshit Rana said in the post-match press conference.
The 24-year-old fast bowler, who regularly clocks speeds above 145 kmph, added that working on his batting has been a conscious effort over the past few months, with a focus on being more reliable in pressure situations rather than just swinging freely.
Harshit Rana Batting Promotion In A Tricky Chase
Harshit’s entry came after Kyle Jamieson dismissed Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Shreyas Iyer in quick succession, suddenly turning a comfortable chase into a nervy finish. With Sundar struggling to run due to a side strain, the team management opted to send Harshit ahead.
Rather than freezing under pressure, he showed intent from ball one, looking for boundaries and forcing New Zealand to defend.
KL Rahul later credited Harshit for easing the pressure at a crucial stage of the chase.
“Harshit took pressure off me, game became easier with the kind of striking he did. I was pretty calm towards the end. We weren’t chasing many. You’re expected to chase six-seven runs per over easily at this level nine out of ten times,” Rahul said.
Harshit’s aggression meant Rahul could focus on rotating strike and taking calculated risks, rather than being forced into big shots himself.
Rahul also revealed an amusing but telling exchange that summed up Rana’s confidence — and the need to balance it.
“I had to calm him down. He was like, ‘please remind me not to hit sixes every ball’. He’s just started playing ODIs,” Rahul said. “I had to remind him to aim for one boundary an over and then take it slower.”
The senior batter added that he had to guide Harshit through the situation.
“He’s someone the dressing room sees a lot of potential in — someone tall, bowling 145, great variations, and can give runs with the bat. Sometimes he is a bit too overconfident, but I’d rather have a youngster who’s overconfident than someone who’s not confident at all,” Harshit Rana said.
In a chase that threatened to slip after India’s middle-order wobble, Rana’s fearless knock not only helped India cross the line but also underlined why the management believes he can offer more than just pace with the ball in the years ahead.
