Harshit Rana. (Source – Twitter/X)
If reports are to be believed, young speedster Harshit Rana is set to be released from India’s Test squad as he is in line to play for Delhi in their upcoming Ranji Trophy 2024-25 clash against Assam, which gets underway on Saturday, October 26.
For the unversed, the Kolkata Knight Riders seamer is currently with the Indian Test team as a travelling reserve. Rohit Sharma and Co. are playing the second Test against New Zealand at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. Harshit was very close to making his international debut during India’s three-match T20I series against Bangladesh earlier this month. However, he has been in and around the national team and it seems that the maiden cap could be on the horizon.
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Rana is expected to be available for Delhi’s third match in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season against Denish Das-led Assam at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. According to a Times of India report, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) management requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to make Rana available for domestic cricket amid their bowling crisis.
The experienced Navdeep Saini won’t be available for Delhi’s clash against Assam as he has been picked in India A’s squad which is scheduled to embark on a tour to Australia. Rana’s inclusion will bolster Delhi’s bowling attack considerably. The Himmat Singh-led side is already facing injury concerns after their scrappy draw against Tamil Nadu in the last game. This was after they had registered three points by virtue of a first innings lead in their opening clash against Chhattisgarh.
India to part ways with all travelling reserves
India added Washington Sundar to their squad after the first Test in Bengaluru last week. Shortly after this move, the Asian giants parted ways with the travelling reserves they had in their squad. Seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy played for Andhra recently in the Ranji Trophy as he prepares himself for India A’s tour of Australia.
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Meanwhile, tearaway pacer Mayank Yadav has also been released from the squad ahead of the four-match T20I tour of South Africa. The right-arm pacer made an impressive international debut in the T20I series against Bangladesh and he would want to build on it in South Africa.