India’s ODI captain Shubman Gill has expressed confidence in Harshit Rana’s potential to excel in the No. 8 role. His remarks came after Rana’s standout performance in the third and final ODI against Australia on Saturday, October 25, at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
After winning the toss, Australia batted first but were restricted to 236 in 46.4 overs, with Rana taking impressive figures of 4/39 from 8.4 overs. In reply, Rohit Sharma (121*) and Virat Kohli (74*) delivered brilliant innings, guiding India to a nine-wicket victory with 69 balls to spare.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gill commended Rana, saying the team trusts him to contribute crucial runs at No. 8. He also highlighted that Rana’s height and pace make him an effective bowling option during the middle overs. Shubman Gill told Star Sports:
“The No. 8 spot is crucial if a batsman can score 20–25 runs. Tall fast bowlers bowling 140+ are rare, so on pitches like South Africa’s, they become vital, especially in middle overs when the ball doesn’t swing much.”
“So, if you have good height and pace, you can create chances. And I think that’s what happened. Australia got a very good start, but the way our spinners bowled first created pressure, and then Harshit Rana bowled powerfully, and I think he got a good reward for that,” he added.
“I’m Not Too Worried” – Gill Responds To India’s Poor Batting vs Australia
During the same press conference, Shubman Gill was asked about his recent form, having managed only 43 runs in three innings. The 26-year-old responded:
“Sometimes it happens, you get a few starts, and your good shots go straight into the hands of fielders. In the first match, I got out down the leg side, so I’m not thinking too much about my batting or that I need to work on something specific.”
“Sometimes, in two or three matches, things just don’t go your way. Obviously, as a batsman, you always want to perform for the team in every game, but I’m not too worried about my performances.”
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