Despite playing in two or three innings less than the four above him, Harshit Rana was fifth in the IPS 2024 list of top five wicket-takers at 22 years of age. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) did not fast-track the chase and as such, he did not make it into post-T20 World Cup India’s 11 hence these two points make sense.
T20I’s Zimbabwe series did not include him, although he was called up later on for an injured player without any subsequent appearances. This is the time for him to rise by joining the ODI team against Sri Lanka since there appears a chance that I would succeed here.
Here are three reasons why he should henceforth be considered part and parcel of the Indian fifty overs side:
#3 Perfect for the next big assignments
The 2025 Champions Trophy is scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan. However, due to certain reasons, India games could be moved to Sri Lanka or the UAE. South Africa and Zimbabwe will host the 2027 50 Over World Cup not long after that. India has now shifted its focus to ODI after the triumph in the T20 World Cup.
Harshit displays the qualities needed for host countries in the IPL. His height gives him an added advantage as compared to most Indian pacers at his age since this enables him to create more bounce due to his height too. For example, such skills would come in handy, especially on African pitches dubbed fast bowlers paradise due to hitting the deck hard.
His off-cutter would be lethal in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the UAE because its pace decreases from 140-145kph to 120-125kph with hardly any change in action.
#2 Harshit Rana gives India something different in a transition phase
At the 2023 ODI World Cup, India’s fast bowling attack consisted of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami. In the Sri Lanka ODIs, Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed, and Arshdeep Singh are part of their bowling attack.
What they share in common is that, under ideal conditions, they would prefer to bowl for 10 or 15 overs in the powerplay overs. The skills of most of them have been improved over time, to enable them to bowl at the death, such as pin-point yorkers and slower ones.
Shami performed admirably at the 2023 ICC World Cup mid-phase. He turned 36 in the next World Cup cycle and his recent injuries could limit him from participating in every match. In the early powerplays, Harashit does not need to bowl. He is capable of swinging the ball even though it is not necessary.
He makes wickets and breaks partnerships in a variety of ways – unlike Shami who is technically oriented yet very useful for the team. Bumrah and Siraj can therefore be utilized during the first stage while Harshit concentrates on the middle and ending stages if he’s available.
India knew they desperately needed a pacer possessing game-changing capabilities during the 2023 final against Australia which was to be played in Ahmedabad. With the help of the pacer, it would be one good step for India towards transitioning and upgrading pace settings.
#1 All-rounder in the making?
It is worth considering investing in Harshit now to gain a professional experience of 30–50 ODIs before the next World Cup to be held soon. This can be beneficial not only for his bowling but also for India would then be in a position to judge how good a batsman he is.
Even Rinku Singh did not get the opportunity to bat at KKR thus Harshit never got to showcase his talent, still Singh has a First-Class century and is well known for being a big hitter in Indian domestic cricket.
India requires more fast-bowling all-rounders than they currently have. It’s not just to provide cover for or replace Hardik Pandya, but also because in conditions like South Africa, that favour pace, the Indian team has to make do with bowlers who can’t bat (none of Siraj, Bumrah and Shami are all-rounders) when they field an additional pacer.
For India to retain its spot as one of the best cricketing nations and to be able to compete on the world stage, Harshit should achieve his full potential.
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