Harshit Rana Ready To Shoulder Death-Bowling Responsibilities After ODI Debut Success

February 7, 2025: Young India seamer Harshit Rana is “ready” to take on the responsibility of bowling in the death overs following his impactful debut in the opening ODI against England in Nagpur. Despite a mixed performance, Harshit’s ability to step up at key moments earned him praise as he became the first Indian bowler to take 3+ wickets on debut across all three formats.

Harshit, who is known for his death-bowling skills in T20Is, was thrown into the ODI mix in a different role, bowling in the new ball and middle overs. However, with India struggling to contain England towards the end of the innings, Harshit could be called upon in the future to take on the crucial death-bowling phase. The seamer has expressed his readiness for that challenge.

“I have bowled well in the death before. I am ready for it. This format is difficult. You get 10 overs, and you have to play different roles in different phases,” he said in the post-match press conference.

Harshit’s journey to the Indian team has been fast-tracked, with a debut in the T20I series against England in which he made an instant impact by taking 3/33 as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube. The decision to include Harshit in the squad raised some eyebrows, with some critics questioning the move, but the young bowler has shut out the noise, focusing solely on delivering for his country.

In his ODI debut, Harshit had a rocky start. He conceded 11 runs in his first over, followed by a maiden in his second. However, after being hammered for four consecutive boundaries and a six by England’s explosive opener Philip Salt, Harshit bounced back strongly, claiming two key wickets—Ben Duckett and Harry Brook—during the powerplay.

Reintroduced in the middle overs, Harshit was at his best when he dismissed Liam Livingstone by enticing him into an aggressive shot, which resulted in a thick edge caught behind by KL Rahul.

Harshit’s ability to fight through the pressure, both on and off the field, made him a valuable contributor to India’s successful defense of a low total. He finished his ODI debut with figures of 3/53 in seven overs, maintaining an economy rate of 7.60.

Despite the mixed reaction to his performances, Harshit remains focused on improving and delivering for his country. “I believe people will keep talking. I want to deliver for my country. I don’t focus on outside noise,” he added.

India’s victory over England was crucial, with Harshit’s contribution proving to be key in shifting the momentum in India’s favor. As the series progresses, Harshit will likely continue to be an important player in India’s bowling attack, especially if he is entrusted with more death-bowling responsibilities in the future.