Three years back, sitting at home in India, Harshit Rana watched that historic Test series win by India over Australia in 2020-21. Today, that dream is turning into reality as Rana heads to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under, one of the three uncapped players in India's 18-member squad.
With a promising rise in both domestic and international cricket, the journey of Rana goes to depict dedication on the part of him. Experienced pros and mentors gave his way through into the Test squad.
Since IPL 2024, Rana has traveled with the team and had many things exposed. He could not make his debut during the team's visits to Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh but got time with India's top stars, like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, while studying lengths and strategies required for Australia.
Being around the team has been important. I keep speaking with Jassi bhai (Jasprit Bumrah), Siraj bhai and so on, about how long and what kind of lengths and strategies work well over there. Their advice has been very helpful, said Rana to reporters at Arun Jaitley Stadium after taking 5 for 80 against Assam in a Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match on Sunday.
Rana's IPL rise was meteoric; 19 wickets in 13 games in 2024 caught eyeballs with an average of 20.15. That performance fetched his first India call-up for the T20Is on the Zimbabwe tour. Though he didn't get a game, that exposure proved invaluable. Learning from bowling coach Morne Morkel, Rana focused on refining his craft with specific goals for each session.
Morne Morkel is very interested in our bowling; he keeps a very close watch on us and tracks what each bowler is doing in the nets. He always tells us what we should aim for with each ball. This involvement gives me clarity on what I need to do next, which is incredibly helpful. His main advice to me has been to have a clear purpose with every bowling session," said Rana.
He has worked on his line and length, dismissed the batters with controlled swing early in the innings, and short-pitched deliveries as the ball wore down. Experience of bowling to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the nets has further sharpened his focus on precision.
Says Rana, who has bowled to future Indian stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in nets: "It is a great feeling to bowl to them in the nets, because they come with the same seriousness that they do to a match. There is no space for mistake; you can't bowl anything ordinary. Both Virat bhai and Rohit bhai have asked me to work on my lengths, and I'm doing exactly that.
Another strong foundation to his development has been the mentoring that Gambhir has been giving him, who was the head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders. "Gautam bhai has always supported me. Whenever I have a question or need guidance, I go to him, and he always gives me the right advice. I've grown a lot under his mentorship in the IPL, and he has taught me so many valuable things."
A combination of youth and experience in Rana now sends him to Australia. With the competitive spirit mixed with hope, he is going to emulate the triumph India enjoyed in 2021 and ready to grab this opportunity when he takes the field into the Test stage.
"I found out that I was going to Australia only when the team was officially announced.". But I was given a sign that they might choose me because they had kept me with the squad for preparation. Being chosen for the Australia tour is very big for me. Cricket is played better with the attitude of competing, and this is like the spirit in Australian cricket. Though my daddy always wanted me to play one Test match at Lord's, England, personally as for me, I liked it more to face an Aussie team. I am highly pleased to see my name on the squad for the tour.
Harshit dedicated his first Test call up to his father Pradeep Rana, an employee of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Hammer throw and weight-lifter, and remembered of sacrifices done by his daddy:.
"I always say that I owe everything to my father. When I was down because of injuries, it was him who never allowed me to break down. He was so confident saying it might not happen today but it will tomorrow; and if it doesn't happen tomorrow, it will the day after. Even if it would never happen, he'd still be proud of how hard a worker I was. Words like those really mean the world to me."
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