Sydney, Australia – Former World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth has publicly reversed his stance on Indian fast bowler Harshit Rana after the young player's impressive performance in the final ODI against Australia on Saturday. Srikkanth's change of heart comes after Rana's match-winning spell of 4 wickets for 39 runs, which played a crucial role in India's victory.
The 23-year-old Rana had been under immense scrutiny, with Srikkanth himself questioning his selection in the squad. Srikkanth had previously suggested that Rana's inclusion was due to his close relationship with head coach Gautam Gambhir, even labeling him as Gambhir's "yes man". This criticism, amplified by social media trolling, put immense pressure on the young bowler.
However, Rana silenced his critics with a fiery performance in Sydney. His four-wicket haul helped India restrict Australia to a manageable total, which the Indian batsmen chased down comfortably. Rana's victims included Alex Carey, Mitchell Owen, Cooper Connolly and Josh Hazlewood.
Following the match, Srikkanth took to his YouTube channel to express his revised opinion. "So today Harshit Rana deserves all the praise. I am very happy for you," Srikkanth said. "Yes, I criticized you a lot but at the end of the day, you've done very well. He has got his confidence back from the last match after scoring with the bat and from his first spell with the ball. The more he performs this way, his confidence will continue growing. Today he looked like a very confident bowler".
Srikkanth further elaborated on Rana's performance, praising his line and length, and highlighting the significance of his wickets. "Harshit Rana bowled superbly. Taking four wickets in an ODI is a big achievement," Srikkanth stated. "My favorite was the wicket of Owen. It was a superb delivery and Rohit took a great catch. He bowled a terrific line and length. Last match he got clobbered at the death but this game, he bowled very well even at the death. He didn't bowl short today and didn't try too many slower ones".
Rana's success in Sydney is particularly noteworthy considering his initial struggles in the series. In the first two ODIs, he managed to take only two wickets for 86 runs in 12 overs, leading to increased criticism and doubts about his place in the team.
Gautam Gambhir had earlier defended Rana against the criticism, emphasizing the unfairness of targeting a young player. Reports even suggest that Gambhir had sternly told Rana to "Perform, or I will make you sit outside the team". This tough message seems to have motivated Rana to step up his game.
Captain Shubman Gill also lauded Rana's performance and highlighted his potential, particularly considering the upcoming tour of South Africa. "There are very few fast bowlers who are tall, who can bowl 140-plus. So if we are looking at South Africa, on such wickets, such bowlers become very important," Gill explained. "Because in the middle overs we saw that the ball doesn't move much off the wicket. So if you have good height and pace, you can create chances".
Rana finished the three-match series as the leading wicket-taker, surpassing seasoned bowlers like Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. His ability to generate pace and extract bounce from the surface proved to be a valuable asset for the Indian team. With this performance, Harshit Rana has not only answered his critics but has also solidified his position as a promising fast bowler for India.
