Sport Trading 
Predictions 
Life has moved at a rapid pace for Harshit Rana. In the span of two and a half months, the Delhi-born fast bowler has gone on to make his debut across all three formats for India.
Having made his Test debut against Australia in Perth in November 2024, his maiden appearance in the two white-ball formats came against England at home. He impressed on debut in every format. Rana picked up a three-wicket haul on debut in every first game and became the first Indian bowler to take at least three wickets on debut in each format.
He took 3/48 in his maiden outing with the ball in Test cricket while taking 3/53 on ODI debut. His T20I debut came as a concussion sub as he replaced Shivam Dube who was hit on the head while batting. He ended up with figures of 3/33 which played a significant role in India’s win.
Thus, there was a lot of chatter and criticism around the concussion substitute if Rana was the like-for-like replacement for Dube. However, the 23-year-old fast bowler is not bothered about it and he admitted that he doesn’t pay attention to such things.
“I believe that people will keep on talking. I just want to play, good or bad. I’m not bothered, I just want to deliver for my country. I don’t pay attention to those talks,” Harshit Rana was quoted saying in the post-match presentation after the first ODI in Nagpur.
Got to know about ODI debut after coming to the ground: Harshit Rana
Rana admitted that he came to know that he was playing his maiden ODI only after reaching the ground. However, he said that he keeps himself ready anytime.
“You get to know only when you come to the ground. Mentally, I’m always prepared whenever I come onto the ground. I know that I can play anytime. So, mentally, I always keep myself prepared,” Rana added.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Rana on his ODI debut. He conceded 11 runs in his first over before bowling a maiden in the next. He was smashed for 26 runs (three sixes and two fours) by Phil Salt in his third over. But Rana bounced back strongly as he got two wickets in three balls in the first over of in his second spell. He removed a well-set Ben Duckett and got rid of Harry Brook for a duck. The 23-year-old pacer also dismissed Liam Livingstone later in the innings and finished with figures of 7-1-53-3.
Rana revealed that his focus was on hitting the high lengths and he reaped rewards for doing so. “I only wanted to focus on my length, bowl where I have to, and I got the reward for that later. I didn’t do anything different in my second spell, just focused on hitting the right areas,” the Delhi-born pacer explained.
Rana is in the ODI squad for another ODI before Jasprit Bumrah returns. However, if Bumrah doesn’t recover fully, Rana could be in with a shot of making it to the squad for the Champions Trophy.
