Rising Indian pacer Harshit Rana has truly shone in the recent ODI series against Australia. He delivered crucial breakthroughs and maintained impressive composure under pressure. The young speedster claimed six wickets throughout the series, with a remarkable four for 39 in the final ODI at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground.
During a candid chat with his teammate Washington Sundar, Rana reflected on how his previous experience from his debut tour Down Under last year proved invaluable. It significantly helped him refine his bowling strategy and execute a game-changing spell during the third ODI.
“Honestly, it’s a truly blessed feeling for me,” Harshit shared. “I never imagined I’d be back here so soon. I made my India debut here just a year ago, and I can’t quite put that feeling into words, but I’m incredibly happy.”
Rana openly admitted that his earlier stint in Australia was instrumental in understanding the local conditions and planning his lengths effectively. “I feel it really helped me immensely because when I first came here a year ago, everything was new. But returning again, I had a clear idea of which lengths I needed to hit. That definitely made a big difference.”
Sundar was quick to laud Harshit for his relentless effort and intelligent bowling. “It was fantastic to see you charging in so hard, spell after spell, giving your absolute best and taking those vital wickets. The key difference was certainly taking them for about 30 runs fewer, which profoundly impacted the game. Your thoughtful approach, especially after the 35th over, was simply amazing.”
In return, Harshit inquired from Sundar what contributed to his improved performance this series compared to past tours. Sundar elaborated, “I’ve played in Australia before, so I have a good grasp of what to expect from the wickets and overall conditions. I just did a bit more homework, and I believe I executed that homework far better than in previous occasions. So, I think it all came together perfectly for me.”
Rana also addressed the challenges of bowling on pitches that didn’t favor spin. “The wickets weren’t particularly spin-friendly, making it quite tough to bowl. However, it’s always a challenge, no matter where we’re playing. I viewed it as an exciting opportunity. It’s incredibly rewarding to work hard, especially bowling in conditions where you can get a little bounce, and sometimes the ball skids through, catching batsmen off guard. That’s why playing cricket in Australia is always so much fun,” he expressed.
When asked about his most cherished wicket from the match, Harshit fondly recalled the dismissal of Owen. “I would definitely say it was the Owen wicket. Before I bowled to him, Shubman suggested, ‘keep a slip.’ I initially declined, saying I didn’t want one. But then Rohit Bhai (Rohit Sharma) stepped in and said, ‘Aye slip rakh na’ (Hey, keep a slip). So, he moved to slip, and astonishingly, the very first ball went straight to him! I remember thinking, ‘Thank God!’”