23-year-old pacer Harshit Rana may not have lots of experience under his belt, but he is being backed in the Indian team across formats on the basis of the potential he possesses. Earlier this year, Rana made his ODI debut before boarding the flight to UAE for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He made his ODI debut against the 'Bazballers' England and was hit for 37 runs from his first overs. But, his former captain Shreyas Iyer pulling of Phil Salt's run out changed the tide. Then, he got three wickets including current captain Harry Brook. Ahead of the T20 Asia Cup 2025, Rana revealed the conversation in the huddle.
"The debut was amusing, to say the least. [Phil] Salt had hit me for 26 runs in an over. I had leaked a good amount of runs [0 for 37] after my first three overs. Soon after, Shreyas bhai brilliantly ran-out Salt. As everyone gathered to celebrate in the huddle, I stood there quietly. Rohit bhai [Rohit Sharma, India captain] then told me, 'Udhar se ball daaliyo' [Bowl from the other end],” Rana told ESPNCricinfo.
The plan worked immediately as he made Ben Duckett his maiden ODI scalp and removed Brook in the same over with a bouncer. Rana was confident of getting Brook out with a bouncer and Rohit backed him to execute the plan.
“[Ben] Duckett got out immediately, caught by [Yashasvi] Jaiswal. Gautam bhai always says, your strength is high pace, you should focus on doing that. So when [Harry] Brook walked in, I thought a new bat has walked in, why not bowl a head-high bouncer. I asked Rohit bhai "Bhaiyya, sar pe maaroon?" [Shall I bowl a head-high bouncer?] He said, "Maar." [Bowl it.] So I bowled the short-pitched delivery. Brook tried to fend it away and KL bhai [KL Rahul] took a very good catch behind the wicket,” he added.
Rana on Livingstone’s approach
Later, he got the wicket of Liam Livingstone as well. Rana also recalled how Livingstone was looking to swing at every ball despite being new to the crease.
“Livingstone was trying to swing his bat at each and every ball of mine. He swung at it jumping out of the crease, he swung at it standing in the crease. I was thinking to myself, Yaar, you are swinging at the ball despite being new to the crease. Why don't you wait for a bit, since there are so many overs still left in the innings? So when he attempted to go big while jumping out of his crease again, I bowled the short delivery, which he edged,” he further added.
From seven overs, he conceded 53 runs and three wickets. He bowled a maiden over as well. England were bowled out for 248 and India won the game with four wickets in hand and 68 balls to spare.