Young Indian cricketer Harshit Rana showcased his fiery temperament both on and off the field, playing a pivotal role in India's thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first ODI at Vadodara's BCA Stadium on Sunday. The Delhi-born player, known for his combative style, later delivered a sharp rebuttal to a journalist questioning India's new-ball bowling prowess.
A Match-Winning Performance
Rana, 24, put in a stellar all-round performance to help India chase down a target of 301 runs. With the ball, he provided the crucial first breakthroughs, dismissing both New Zealand openers Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls after they had stitched a solid 117-run partnership. He finished with figures of 2 for 65 in his 10 overs.
His contribution didn't end there. Promoted up the order ahead of an injured Washington Sundar, Rana played a vital knock with the bat. He scored a quickfire 29 runs off just 23 balls, forming a key 37-run partnership with KL Rahul for the sixth wicket. This effort helped steady the ship after the quick dismissals of Virat Kohli (93), Ravindra Jadeja (4), and Shreyas Iyer (49), guiding India to a tense win.
The Fiery Press Conference Exchange
In the post-match press conference, a journalist pointed out the Indian team's perceived struggle to take wickets with the new ball in ODIs, especially in the absence of spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Rana did not hold back in his response.
"I don't know which cricket you've seen," Rana shot back. He defended the new-ball bowlers, highlighting that they had contained the run flow effectively. "Siraj bhai bowled very well. We haven't even given away any runs with the new ball... if you don't get wickets with the new ball, you'll take them out in the middle," he asserted.
He further explained the nature of ODI cricket, stating, "But these things happen, if you do not get wickets early on then you will get them later, which is what we did. There are different phases in ODI cricket." He also cited the slow pitch with low bounce as a factor.
Embracing the All-Rounder Role
Rana revealed that the team management, under head coach Gautam Gambhir, is actively grooming him as a genuine all-rounder. This strategic move explains his selection over a specialist pacer like Arshdeep Singh for the first ODI.
"The team management wants to groom me as an all-rounder and it is my task to keep working on it," Rana told reporters. He emphasized his focus on contributing with the bat lower down the order. "My team wants me to bat at No 8 as an all-rounder... I believe I can score 30-40 runs for the team lower down the order whenever needed."
This focus on developing a batting depth at number eight aligns with Gambhir's visible preference for multi-skilled players and a modern trend in international cricket.
Despite coming close, the Player of the Match award ultimately went to superstar Virat Kohli for his magnificent 93. However, Harshit Rana's impactful performance with both bat and ball, followed by his confident and forthright demeanour, marked a significant step in his journey to cement a permanent spot in the national side on pure merit.
