Harshit Rana

It is a testament to India’s growing fast-bowling stocks as well as the scouting system thriving under IPL teams that players such as Harshit Rana can be discovered and blooded into the highest levels of the sport. Signed by Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022 before he had even played in a List A or First Class match for Delhi, the faith shown in Rana’s ability has paid off for all parties as he helped KKR to their third IPL title, and earned a call-up to the Indian national team not long after.

Rana was brought into the IPL as an injury replacement, and his debut was against the Delhi Capitals, the franchise from the city he represented domestically. He would take the wicket of Mitchell Marsh, who was widely considered one of the most dangerous T20 batters after his performances in the previous year’s T20 World Cup.

Harshit received his domestic debut later in the year, and was one of Delhi’s star men with the ball as he exhibited his high-quality hit-the-deck bowling, combined with clever variations. He would play five Ranji Trophy matches and pick up 21 wickets, including 7 wickets in an innings against Hyderabad.

Rana’s impressive bowling and useful lower-order contributions with the bat caught the eye of India’s developmental teams as well. He was one of the leading bowlers for the team during the ACC Emerging Cup, and later toured South Africa with the India A team.

While Rana’s potential has been high and his rise has been solid, his true breakthrough would arrive in the 2024 IPL season, in which he was one of the stars of a phenomenal KKR bowling lineup. With the experience of premier fast bowlers such as Mitchell Starc in the same bowling group, Rana had his finest season as he finished with 19 wickets from 13 matches at an average of 20.16.

He finished tied for fourth for most wickets in the tournament, but what was most impressive was his death bowling in a batter-friendly tournament, as well as the crucial performances he put in towards the crunch end of the season. He took 7 wickets in the last three group games to seal a top-two finish for KKR, before adding on two wickets in the final, including that of the always-dangerous Heinrich Klaasen to all but seal the trophy for his team.

Rana credits KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir with helping him to steel his resolve and enter the right mindset during this successful IPL campaign, elevating him as a fast bowler. The faith and appreciation was repaid when Gambhir, now as Indian coach, called up Harshit to the Indian setup ahead of the ODI series against Sri Lanka.

While he is yet to make his debut, all the tools are there for Rana, who looks ready to be a fantastic deputy for the likes of Jasprit Bumrah. Given that he is still only 22 and constantly developing. Rana’s ambitions may be even higher, as he has shown himself to be capable of taking the biggest wickets in the most important moments.

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