Rapid Rise Under Gambhir’s Watch
Harshit Rana’s rise in Indian cricket over the past year has been impressive. The right-arm pacer earned his first major call-up during the 2023–24 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Soon after, selectors surprised many by picking him ahead of Mohammed Siraj for the Champions Trophy squad. His stocks rose further once Gautam Gambhir took over as India’s head coach. Gambhir had worked closely with Rana at Kolkata Knight Riders and backed him across formats. Although his all-format inclusion raised eyebrows, Rana quickly showed why the management trusted him.
White-Ball Success Builds His Case
While Harshit Rana is still searching for a defining impact in Test cricket, he has steadily established himself in white-ball formats. He has become a regular in India’s playing XI in ODIs and T20Is. Moreover, his ability to bat lower down the order has added valuable depth to the team. India has long struggled to find a bowler who can contribute meaningfully with the bat. Rana’s calm approach under pressure suggests he could finally fill that long-standing gap.
Breakthrough Batting Against New Zealand
Rana took his game to the next level during the recent ODI series against New Zealand. In Vadodara, he played a vital cameo of 29 runs during a tricky chase. He struck boundaries and sixes to inject momentum. However, his defining moment came in the series decider. With India under pressure, Rana produced a brilliant maiden ODI half-century. He scored 52 off 43 balls, smashing four sixes and four fours. Crucially, he added 99 runs with Virat Kohli, keeping India alive in the contest.
Bowling Impact and Areas to Improve
Although India lost the match after Rana’s dismissal triggered a lower-order collapse, his innings stood out as a major positive. Gambhir also earned praise for defending the 23-year-old amid criticism from former cricketers. Beyond batting, Rana has impressed with the ball. In just 14 ODIs, he has taken 26 wickets, placing him among India’s most successful early-career bowlers. However, he still needs to improve his death bowling. Consistency in line and execution will determine whether he becomes a reliable all-format player for India.
