Delhi pacer Harshit Rana, who earned a call-up to the Indian Test side for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia away from home, said that being selected for the tour is a big deal for him since the competitive attitude he has in his gameplay is very similar to that of the Aussies. Rana was among several fresh faces chosen for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, alongside young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, and wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel.
Source: NDTV
After a stellar performance in domestic cricket, Harshit Rana’s call-up to the Indian Test squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia is a milestone moment. Speaking after his five-wicket haul against Assam in the Ranji Trophy game at Delhi, Rana shared his surprise and excitement over the selection.
“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 Harshit Rana as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
Harshit Rana also revealed that it was his father’s dream to see him play a Test at Lord’s against England, but he personally prefers the challenges that Australia offers. “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.
The 22-year-old has been a regular with India’s white-ball teams since his breakout season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where he took 19 wickets at an average of 20.15 in 13 matches.
Harshit Rana emphasized that the exposure to the Indian team environment has been invaluable for his growth, both as a cricketer and as a person. “I have been with the Indian team continuously since the IPL, and I have learned 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 said.
The pacer spoke highly of the guidance he’s received from Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj, which has been pivotal in preparing him for the challenges of the Australia tour. “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,” said Harshit Rana.
“Recently when I was with the Indian team, I used to keep talking to Jassi [Jasprit Bumrah] and [Mohammed] Siraj bhaiya about what to do if someday I get a chance to play there [in Australia], which lengths would work best. Their advice has been incredibly helpful,” he concluded.
Right-arm seamer Mohammed Shami is absent from the squad due to an ankle injury that has kept him sidelined since November 2023. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy kicks off on November 22, with the first Test set to be played in Perth. The series will feature five Tests in total, including the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
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