Global Experience Enhances Harshit Rana’s Gameplay Arsenal

In the current series against South Africa-A, India-A pacer Harshit Rana has demonstrated a keen understanding of his role and responsibilities on the field. Whether it’s due to his skills or recent exposure to international matches, Rana has positioned himself as a highly regarded player.

The pitch at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, where the two one-day matches have taken place, has been more favorable to bowlers who know how to vary their pace. Rana has adjusted well to these conditions. As the third seamer in the lineup, he typically begins bowling between the 10th and 20th overs, capitalizing on his natural pace while incorporating his off-cutter as a dependable variation.

Throughout the 15 overs he has bowled in the series, Rana has maintained a balanced mix of bouncers, off-cutters, and aimed deliveries to the stumps—his preferred strategy. Notably, he managed to foil left-hander Jordan Hermann by following a swift bouncer with an effective off-cutter.

His diverse bowling strategy has kept batsmen guessing, as evidenced by his statistics: an economy rate of 4.67 and five wickets in the two matches. This includes an impressive performance of three wickets for 21 runs in the second match, which significantly disrupted South Africa’s middle order.

His childhood coach, Shravan Kumar, credits Rana’s ability to maintain high speed over long spells as a key strength but acknowledges the need for greater accuracy and precision. According to Shravan, improvements in these areas are crucial for success at the international level. Shravan, who has also coached Ishant Sharma, has followed Rana’s development since his school days at Ganga International School. He believes Rana has the potential to become a top-tier fast bowler, but stresses that his long-term success will depend on his fitness.

Despite his steady, if not spectacular, performance since debuting internationally—garnering four wickets in two Tests, 16 in eight ODIs, and five in five T20Is—Rana has faced criticism from some pundits, with accusations of favoritism towards him by head coach Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir addressed these concerns publicly, emphasizing Rana’s merit.

Shravan suggests that such criticism can be beneficial, pushing Rana to elevate his game. “At the international level, criticism is part of the journey. It helps players improve and prove their place,” he stated.

In a recent T20 series in Australia, Rana was promoted to No.7 and made a significant 35 off 33 balls, contributing to a key partnership with Abhishek Sharma. Known as a promising No. 8 batter, Rana’s potential was evident in a Duleep Trophy match where he scored an unbeaten 122.

Before the second one-dayer against South Africa-A, Rana focused on six-hitting practice, emphasizing his batting capabilities. He later showcased this ability by finishing the 286-run chase with a six in the final over.

While Rana has demonstrated batting potential, Shravan hesitates to label him an all-rounder just yet. “To be an all-rounder, a player needs a deep understanding of the game from a batter’s perspective,” Shravan explained. Only when Rana develops this game sense can he be considered a true all-rounder, he concluded.

Published on November 17, 2025.