Harshit Rana Called Up for Final Test Against New Zealand
Rana’s impressive performances have not gone unnoticed. Earlier this year, he was awarded a fast-bowling contract by the national selection panel, led by Ajit Agarkar. His domestic season has been strong, highlighted by two four-wicket hauls during the Duleep Trophy.
Harshit Rana, the promising fast bowler from Delhi, has been named in India's squad for the third and final Test against New Zealand, scheduled to take place in Mumbai starting November 1. It remains uncertain whether Rana's inclusion is as a replacement for an injured player or as a new addition to the main squad, as no recent injury updates regarding the fast bowlers have been released.
Initially selected among three uncapped players in India's 18-member squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia (set to run from November 2024 to January 2025), Rana was part of the reserve list for the first two Tests against New Zealand. Despite having played only nine first-class matches before this call-up, he recently showcased his skills in domestic cricket. Last week, Rana was released to participate in the third round of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, where he excelled with both bat and ball, contributing to Delhi's first victory of the season. He took seven wickets in the match against Assam, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings, while also scoring a quick 59 runs batting at No. 8.
Rana’s impressive performances have not gone unnoticed. Earlier this year, he was awarded a fast-bowling contract by the national selection panel, led by Ajit Agarkar. His domestic season has been strong, highlighted by two four-wicket hauls during the Duleep Trophy. Furthermore, he made a significant impact in the IPL 2024 season with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where he took 19 wickets in 11 innings at an average of 20.15 and an economy rate of 9.08.
Rana earned his first national call-up during the T20I series in Zimbabwe in June and has since been part of the ODI squad that toured Sri Lanka. He was also included in India’s recent T20I series against Bangladesh, where the team achieved a 3-0 sweep, although he has yet to receive his first international cap.
Known for his lively pace and late swing, Harshit Rana has been mentored in the IPL by current India head coach Gautam Gambhir and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. His addition to the squad for the Test against New Zealand could provide valuable depth to India's bowling lineup as they seek to bounce back in the series.
