NEW DELHI: Delhi pacer Harshit Rana, who was called up to the Indian Test team for the away Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, stated that he enjoys bowling to batting mainstays Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the nets because they are always very intent and give him helpful advice.
“I love bowling to both of them (Rohit and Virat) in the nets because they also bat with the same intent in the nets like they do in a match. So there is no scope for you to make a mistake or bowl ordinary to them. I also spoke to Virat [Kohli] bhaiya and Rohit [Sharma] bhaiya, so they just told me to focus on my length and I am trying the same thing here,” said Rana.
Speaking after his five-wicket haul against Assam in the Ranji Trophy game at Delhi, Rana said that he had also discussed the Australia trip with Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, the pace spearheads, and opened up about his equation with them.
“Recently when I was with the Indian team, I used to keep talking to Jassi [Jasprit Bumrah] and [Mohammed] Siraj bhaiya that if someday I get a chance to play there [in Australia], what should I do and what should I not do, which length will be right there and which is not. I have got an idea of all these things from both the bowlers and talking to them has helped me a lot,” he concluded.
Along with wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, and youthful all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, Rana was one of several new players selected for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Rana claimed that he had not been given any signs of joining the team and that his selection was a “big deal” because of how comparable his competitive gameplay is to that of the Australians.
“Only when the team was announced did I know I was going to Australia. But I had indications that I might be selected for the Australia tour because they had me with the team to prepare. Being selected for Australia tour is a big deal for me. The kind of competitive attitude I like to play cricket with on the field is very similar to Australia’s,” said Rana as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
He added that although his father had always wanted him to play a Test match against England at Lord’s, he prefers Australia.
“It was my father’s dream that I play a Test against England sometime at Lord’s, but I personally like Australia more,” said Rana.
Since a successful 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season with champion Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), in which the pacer claimed 19 wickets at an average of 20.15 in 13 games, Rana, who has not yet made his international debut, has been a member of India’s white-ball squads.
The 22-year-old claimed that both as a person and as a cricket player, the exposure and contact with the Indian team had really benefited him.
“I have been with the Indian team continuously since the IPL and I have learnt a lot of things there. This lesson is not only about cricket, but also about life, how a sportsperson advances his career and life. Even as a cricketer, I have grown a lot by being with the Indian team,” he concluded.
