"Management wants to groom me as an all-rounder": Indian speedster Harshit Rana
Vadodara, January 12
India's speedster Harshit Rana said the Indian management is aiming to groom him as an all-rounder and expressed confidence that he can contribute 30-40 runs from that spot. He's working hard in the nets to improve his skills.
Rana showcased his all-round skills against New Zealand in the first ODI in Vadodara on Sunday. With the ball, he scalped two wickets, removing both the New Zealand openers Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls.
With the bat, Rana slammed a brilliant 29 runs off 23 balls, including two fours and a six. His handy little cameo eased the pressure on KL Rahul.
"The team management wants to groom me as an all-rounder, and my aim is to work on it, and I am doing it in the nets. The team wants me to bat at No.8 as an all-rounder. I believe I am good enough to make 30-40 runs whenever the team wants," Harshit Rana told the reporters after the match.
India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the first ODI in Vadodara on Sunday. The hosts lost momentum after Virat Kohli was dismissed for 93, but KL Rahul's calm and composed 29 not out off 21 balls sealed the victory for India in the second last over.
India pulled off a thrilling chase, reaching 301 in the second last over of the innings, with Rahul and Washington Sundar putting up a decent partnership to seal the win by four wickets.
Brief score: New Zealand 300/8 in 50 overs (Daryl Mitchell 84, Henry Nicholls 62; Mohammed Siraj 2/40) vs India 306/6 in 49 overs (Virat Kohli 93, Shubman Gill 56; Kyle Jamieson 4/41).
— ANI
Reader Comments
Love his confidence! But let's not put too much pressure on the young man. Grooming takes time. We saw with Vijay Shankar how the "all-rounder" tag can become a burden. Let him focus on his primary skill—pace bowling—and let the batting develop naturally.
His 29(23) was crucial under pressure. That's the kind of lower-order contribution we need in tight matches, especially in World Cups. More power to him! Working hard in the nets is the right attitude. Jai Hind!
As a cricket fan, it's exciting to see new talent emerge. The management seems to have a clear plan for him. His performance against a strong NZ side is promising. Hope he gets a long rope to prove himself.
Good move by management. We need depth in batting. But honestly, his primary job is to take wickets with the new ball. Getting Conway and Nicholls early was the real game-changer. The runs are a bonus. Don't let the batting focus affect his bowling rhythm.
So proud to see young players from smaller cities getting opportunities and shining! Vadodara ka launda did well! 🎉 His six was clean hitting. If he can work on his technique against spin, those 30-40 runs will become a reality very soon.
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