22-year-old Harshit Rana is one of the uncapped Test players to get picked in India's squad for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Rana who is often aggressive with his send-offs had a dream of playing against Australia in Australia. Rana possesses a competitive attitude like Australians and had indications that he will be on the flight to Australia despite not being able to make his white-ball debut against Sri Lanka or Bangladesh.
"Only when the team was announced did I know I was going to Australia," Rana told ESPNCricinfo. "But I had indications that I might be selected for the Australia tour because they had me with the team to prepare. Being selected for Australia tour is a big deal for me.
"The kind of competitive attitude I like to play cricket with on the field is very similar to Australia's. It was my father's dream that I play a Test against England sometime at Lord's, but I personally like Australia more. I am proud of myself, that my name came up for this tour."
Rana seeks senior pacers’ advice
Rana bagged a five-wicket haul against Assam in Ranji Trophy 2024-25 clash ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Rana revealed that he has been learning from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj on how to bowl on Australian pitches.
"Recently when I was with the Indian team, I used to keep talking to Jassi [Jasprit Bumrah] and [Mohammed] Siraj bhaiya that if someday I get a chance to play there [in Australia], what should I do and what should I not do, which length will be right there and which is not. I have got an idea of all these things from both the bowlers and talking to them has helped me a lot," he said.
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Rana on Gambhir’s support
Rana has been backed by head coach Gambhir. The young pacer credits the former Indian opener for helping him evolve as a player during the Indian Premier League (IPL) at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
"Gambhir bhaiya has always backed me and if I have to ask anything, I always go to him and talk to him and he always gives me the right guidance. Under him, I have grown a lot in the IPL and he has taught me a lot of things," the Delhi pacer said.
It is not clear whether Rana will get to make his Test debut in Australia as the 18-man squad is filled with pacers including fast-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy who will feature in the India ‘A’ series in Australia.
India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.