Team India likely to bet on Harshit Rana in Mumbai

By Chander Shekhar Luthra

New Delhi : With the Test series already lost 0-2 to New Zealand, Team India management may be considering using Harshit Rana, a rookie pacer from Delhi with decent batting talent, for the final Test starting in Mumbai on Friday, November 1.

The 22-year-old right-arm quick bowler has made a name for himself in domestic cricket by clocking 140-plus speed. Harshit, a native of Delhi, will soon be taking flight to Australia for the vital five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy beginning next month. If Harshit is selected in the playing eleven, he will have to share the new ball load with Jasprit Bumrah, as veteran seamer Mohammed Shami is still recovering from an ankle injury he sustained during the World Cup 2023.

The most recent summons, meanwhile, coincided with off-spinner Washington Sundar shocking all cricket fans with his seven-wicket haul in Pune’s second Test.

Team India has nothing to lose in the series, so Harshit might get a chance to showcase his abilities in Mumbai. Before impressing everyone in his last Ranji Trophy outing against Assam, the Delhi pacer started the series as a travelling reserve in Bengaluru and Pune. He got five wickets and scored a half-century as Delhi defeated Assam by 10 wickets. 

Harshit’s first-class record is exceptional. He has claimed 43 wickets in 18 innings, including his best 10 for 108 at a strike rate of 36. With a peak score of unbeaten 122, he has also amassed 469 runs at an average of 42.63 so far in his first-class career.

Earlier this month, India’s T20I team selected the Delhi all-rounder for the series against Bangladesh. He did not, however, get a starting position in India’s 3-0 triumph over Bangladesh. 

The inclusion of Harshit in the Indian team for both the three-ODI series against Sri Lanka and the opening Twenty20 International match against Zimbabwe is noteworthy. Last month, BCCI revealed minutes before the start of the T20I against Bangladesh that the KKR sensation couldn’t make his debut due to a “viral fever”.

However, the team management and his seniors were impressed by Harshit’s accuracy and pace in the nets.

Loses IPL money

Though, Harshit is pleased about this most recent national call-up  but there has been considerable debate regarding its timing.

He got this call a day after the “IPL Retention Deadline”, which caused a commotion because his IPL team, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), gained big profit by the sheer timing of the announcement. 

Team India has named Harshit in their line-up for the final Test, which begins on November 1. Remember, IPL clubs need to finalise their roster of retained players by October 31. All IPL teams spend Rs 11 crore (Slot 3), Rs 14 crore (Slots 2 and 5), and Rs 18 crore (Slots 1 and 4) to retain cappad players.

However, keeping uncapped players only costs Rs 4 crore.

The management of KKR has not yet confirmed its retentions, and the team can only retain Harshit at the current fee if the star bowler accepts and chooses not to participate in the bidding.

Harshit’s 19 wickets in 13 games helped KKR win the 2024 IPL season under the direction of former Dutch star Ryan Ten Doeschate, assistant coaches Abhishek Nayar, and Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir.

By Chander Shekhar Luthra

shekhar.luthra@gmail.com

@shekharluthra