Harshit Rana. (Source – BCCI)
Harshit Rana is reportedly in line to make his India debut during the first Test between India and Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth, starting on Friday, November 22. The right-arm seamer grabbed eyeballs during the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year with consistent performances with the ball for eventual champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
During his stint with the Knights, Harshit has worked closely with bowling coach Bharat Arun. The former India cricketer recently said that the youngster could be an asset for the Indian team on the Australian pitches as he has the ability to get bounce as well as movement. Arun also highlighted Harshit’s confidence in his skillsets.
“His confidence. He is very sure of his ability and isn’t scared of the big stage. He is a tall bowler and he will be able to generate bounce. What goes in his favour is also his ability to get movement. Someone who gets bounce and movement is rare, and in Australian conditions, he can be a very useful bowler for India. Having seen him very closely, his confidence is something that has stood out for me,” Arun told RevSportz.
Harshit Rana’s first-class numbers
The 22-year-old has only played 10 first-class matches so far in his career. He has picked up 43 wickets at an average of 24 and a strike rate of 36. Harshit is also a decent batter, who can contribute with important runs down the order. He is averaging an impressive 42.63 with the bat and has two half-centuries and a ton after playing 14 innings.
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It will be interesting to see whether the Delhi pacer is handed his maiden international cap in Perth on Friday. He could be competing with seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who can provide more depth to the batting line-up and bowl some tight overs as well, for a spot in the playing XI.