Harshit Rana India's best performing ODI bowler in last 2-3 years: Mukund
New Delhi, June 30
Former Indian opener Abhinav Mukund said that pacer Harshit Rana has been India's best-performing ODI bowler in the last two to three years and added that he has a lot of potential with the bat.
Mukund, who represented India in seven Tests, was speaking on 'The Great Indian Cricket Show' on Doordarshan.
Speaking on the shot, Mukund spoke on how the team management is looking to balance bowling variations with crucial lower-order batting depth. While highlighting the stark contrast in what Nitish Kumar Reddy and Hardik Pandya bring to the table, Mukund explained why one young pacer has earned an immediate spot in the one-day international setup.
Mukund said, "Harshit Rana has a lot of potential with the bat. The Indian team management trusts him a lot and believes that he has batting ability and can play at number 8. Harshit Rana is a walk-in for me in terms of ODIs. This is the thing; we mix formats a little bit. So Harshit Rana has been the best-performing ODI bowler in the last two or three years."
In 14 ODIs, Harshit has taken 26 wickets at an average of 27.38, with a four-fer to his name and an economy rate of 6.21. In the previous T20I series against Ireland, Harshit managed four wickets at an average of over 10, with best figures of 3/24.
He added, "Nitish Kumar's strength is different, and Hardik's (Pandya) strength is different. So, if Nitish Kumar can give you overs with the new ball and in the middle overs, you should test their strengths, at which phase of the game they are good to bat and good to bowl," he added.
Both Nitish and Hardik are currently battling injuries. While Hardik has not been included in any squads for T20Is and ODIs till Asian Games, Nitish was forced to miss the Ireland and England T20Is due to injury, making way for all-rounder Suryansh Shedge.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I haven't seen much of Harshit Rana, but those numbers are solid. India seems to be building a good pace bowling depth. Let's see if he can perform in high-pressure games.
Mixed formats can be confusing, but Harshit's record speaks for itself. I hope the team management doesn't rush him. Need to develop him carefully for future World Cups! 🙏
It's good to see young fast bowlers coming through. But calling him the "best-performing ODI bowler in the last 2-3 years" seems a bit premature. Need to see consistency over a longer period.
Impressive numbers by Harshit! 6.21 economy in ODIs is outstanding. Perfect for the middle overs. India's pace attack is looking deep and dangerous. 🏏🔥
What's the sample size? 14 ODIs over 2-3 years is not that many. I'd want to see how he performs against top sides like Australia or England before making big claims. Still, promising start.
Finally a young pacer who can bat at 8! That's the key. Balance in the team is crucial. With Hardik and Nitish injured, Harshit's batting ability gives us
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