He took two wickets in the 1st IND vs NZ ODI.
The growth of Harshit Rana as an all-rounder could make him a perfect x-factor player at the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. His lower-order batting, alongside fast bowling, allows India to be flexible with team combinations and fits well with head coach Gautam Gambhir’s plan for versatile players.
The team management has spoken about a preference for a bowler who can bat at No.8, and they are clearly keen on developing Rana as a potential bowling all-rounder, with a particular focus on his batting.
Last year, Harshit Rana received some criticism for getting fast-tracked into the Indian setup across all formats. Now, his performance speaks for itself.
On Sunday, the 24-year-old played a pivotal role in India’s emphatic four-wicket victory against New Zealand in the first ODI in Vadodara. He contributed with two crucial wickets and 29 runs with the willow. In the first innings, New Zealand were cruising towards a huge total with both openers achieving their half-centuries. The pacer put on the brakes, dismissing both openers and reducing the Kiwis from 117/0 to 126/2.
In the second innings, batting ahead of the injured Washington Sundar, Rana aimed for power to bring the required rate down, even hitting a six and two fours, rather than just trying to stay in, showcasing that he can be a useful player at No.8 moving forward.
“The team wants to groom me as an all-rounder… I am working on it in the nets. I am confident that I can score 30-40 runs lower down the order whenever needed, and that’s what the team management believes as well,” Harshit Rana said in the post-match press conference.
Earlier last year, on the Australia tour, Harshit Rana made a notable contribution when India were reeling at 226/8 after 45 overs. Batting at No.9, Harshit scored an unbeaten 24 off 18 balls, including three fours, and helped the side put a respectable 263-run total on the board. He then picked up two wickets, featuring dangerous Travis Head and Matthew Short, who scored 74 off 78 balls.
Modern T20 cricket needs multiple bowlers who can contribute as a batter when needed. While India are continuously seeking such options, especially when Hardik Pandya is not around, Rana getting more chances will help him evolve and allow the team to be flexible with the combination going forward.
In his brief white-ball career, the Delhi-born has hinted at a bright future, snaring 22 scalps in 12 ODIs at an average of 26.18, including a four-wicket haul, and 70 runs at 23.33 average at 127.27 strike rate, displaying his value in the lower-order, putting himself in a strong position for the T20 World Cup 2026. Notably, Rana is the leading wicket-taker for India in ODI cricket since 2025.
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Speaking to JioHotstar after the match, KL Rahul mentioned how he brings value to the table.
“We’ve seen his potential with crucial knocks in Australia. He’s tall, clicks 145+ kph with smart variations, plus handy batting. The dressing room wants him to develop into that complete cricketer every team craves. I think he has a good attitude towards batting. Sometimes a bit too confident, but I’d rather have a youngster who is slightly overconfident in his abilities than one who has no confidence in himself at all,” the keeper-batter said.
It is important because Indian fast bowlers usually do not bat well. Rana’s practice focuses on making his batting more solid, putting him in a good position for the tough demands of the T20 World Cup 2026, in comparison with bowlers who only bowl.
These crucial knocks from Harshit Rana prove to be vital when the top-order fails or the team experiences a batting collapse. Having such a player improves the balance of the team without any major adjustments. It also aligns with Gambhir’s preference for players with multiple skills over just specialists, such as Arshdeep Singh, who has missed quite a few games lately in white-ball cricket.
Rana’s T20I record reads seven wickets in five innings, with an economy rate of 10.17. While these numbers are fairly average, his more recent games have been encouraging. As for his batting, he has scored 48 runs, hitting at almost 120, and his best score was 35.
As Gambhir prioritises having a well-rounded team, Harshit Rana’s batting and wicket-taking ability make him a potential game-changer for India at the T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, starting February 7.
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