Harshit Rana gives India reason to look India’s home series loss to New Zealand was painful and historic, but even in defeat there were positives to take away. One shining light was the rapid rise of young pacer Harshit Rana. His performance with both bat and ball showed promise for the future, and Harshit Rana gives India reason to look beyond the disappointment of the result and focus on building a stronger team.
Harshit Rana’s Growth as a True All-Rounder
Despite India losing the series 1-2, Harshit Rana gives India reason to look forward with optimism. Captain Shubman Gill praised the 24-year-old, calling him a “great” prospect. In modern cricket, such praise is rare, but Rana’s ability to bowl consistently at around 140 kph and extract bounce because of his height makes him special. Gill also highlighted Rana’s improving batting, suggesting that he could become a valuable fast-bowling all-rounder.
For a team that often struggles to find seam-bowling all-rounders, Harshit Rana gives India reason to look at new combinations. With Hardik Pandya frequently battling injuries, Rana’s emergence adds depth and balance to the side. While he may not yet match Pandya’s experience, his skill set fills an important gap. Ideally, both players could feature together in future World Cups, making India stronger.
In limited-overs cricket so far, Harshit Rana gives India reason to look confident about the lower middle order. In 22 international matches, including 14 ODIs, he has shown fearless bowling and aggressive batting. Although he had an expensive outing in one match, his overall accuracy and pace stood out. More importantly, his batting surprised many, especially during the high-pressure chase in Indore.
A Brave Fight in Defeat and Kohli’s Lone Battle
During the final ODI, Harshit Rana gives India reason to look at how close the team came to pulling off an unlikely win. Chasing 338, India were under pressure early, but Rana played a bold knock of 52 off 43 balls. His innings included eight boundaries and showed courage and smart shot selection. Even top New Zealand bowlers were attacked without fear.
Rana shared a crucial 99-run partnership with Virat Kohli, and once again Harshit Rana gives India reason to look at the value of batting deep. Kohli played a superb innings of 124, his 54th ODI century, but lacked support from the top order. Young players like Rana and Nitish Reddy tried their best, and Harshit Rana gives India reason to look at the future core of the team.
Coach Gautam Gambhir deserves credit for Rana’s progress. From a raw fast bowler to a reliable all-round option, Harshit Rana gives India reason to look at the benefits of patience and proper guidance. Gambhir has worked closely with him, both at franchise level and in the national setup.
Rana himself understands his role clearly. He believes he can score useful runs at No. 8, and Harshit Rana gives India reason to look confident that he can deliver when needed. Even though India lost, Harshit Rana gives India reason to look beyond the scoreline and invest hope in a promising future star.
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