"In South africa, we'd be needing.." Gautam Gambhir hints at including Harshit Rana in ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 squad

Harshit Rana has been backed heavily by Gautam Gambhir across formats in the Indian team.

India‘s head coach Gautam Gambhir has stated that Harshit Rana is viewed as a future bowling all-rounder. On Sunday, India won the ODI series 2-1 against South Africa in Vizag with a nine-wicket victory, with Rana taking four wickets in three games. Despite his limited batting experience, Gambhir believes Rana has the potential to become a reliable No. 8.

Harshit Rana has repeatedly made useful cameos with the bat. In October, he hit 35 from 33 balls against Australia in the second T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, including three fours and a six. In the second ODI at the Adelaide Oval, he scored 24 off 18 deliveries, including three fours.

“Going to give us a massive boost”—Gautam Gambhir on backing Harshit Rana as a possible all-rounder

Harshit took three wickets in India’s 13-run victory in Ranchi and then went one for 70 in Raipur. In Vizag, he recorded 8-2-44-0. Gambhir stated that India is focused on establishing the appropriate squad balance and applauded Harshit, Prasidh Krishna, and Arshdeep Singh for stepping up despite their minimal experience.

“That’s one of the reasons why we are trying to probably develop someone like Harshit, who can actually bat at 8 and contribute with a bat at No. 8. That’s how we need to find the balance, because come South Africa in two years’ time, we would be needing three proper seamers as well.

And if he can continue to develop as a bowling all-rounder, it’s going to give us a massive boost. Because obviously with Jasprit Bumrah coming back, and what we saw of Arshdeep [Singh], Prasidh [Krishna], and Harshit in this series, [it] was incredible,” Gambhir stated at the post-match conference.

“All these three guys do not have a lot of experience under their belts, especially in the 50-over format. They’ve hardly played fewer than 15 ODIs, all these three bowlers, but they’ve done a fabulous job. So I feel that if we can develop someone like Harshit at No. 8, who can contribute with the bat, I think it is going to give us the right balance as well. Let’s see. I think it’s still a long way,” Gambhir added.

Rana’s average in first-class cricket is 31.18 from 14 matches, with one century and two fifties.  In 2023, he scored an undefeated 122 off 86 balls—featuring 12 fours and nine sixes—for North Zone in their Duleep Trophy quarterfinal versus North East Zone.

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