Harshit Rana credits India head coach Gautam Gambhir after receiving maiden ODI call-up

Harshit Rana has been named in India’s ODI squad for the Sri Lanka tour.

Harshit Rana, the Delhi pacer, has credited new Indian team head coach Gautam Gambhir after he received his maiden ODI call-up. On July 18, 2024, the BCCI announced the Indian squads for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.

India will play three ODIs and as many T20Is in Sri Lanka with the T20Is to be played on July 27, 28, and 30 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The ODIs series will follow next and will be played at the RPS Stadium in Colombo on August 2, 4 and 7.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returned to the Indian ODI team, while Rohit Sharma was named captain of the side. Shreyas Iyer made a comeback to the Indian team, while Rishabh Pant was named in both ODI and T20I teams. KL Rahul will be the second wicket-keeper in the ODI team. Riyan Parag was a surprise name to feature in both Indian squads as well.

As for the pacers, Khaleel Ahmed, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammed Siraj featured in both the squads, with Jasprit Bumrah being rested for the entire tour. Harshit Rana was a surprise pick for the pacer attack in the Indian ODI squad. He was recently named in the India T20I squad for Zimbabwe as well, but didn’t get a game.

Above everyone else, Gautam Gambhir: Harshit Rana credits India coach for his ODI call-up

Following his maiden ODI call-up, Harshit Rana has said that he owes much of his success to Gautam Gambhir “above everyone else.” Rana, 22, worked with India’s new head coach Gambhir at the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) this year and, like Gambhir, rose through the Delhi cricket ranks.

“I believed in working hard but whenever I used to get hurt after being overlooked in age-group teams, I would sit in my room and start sobbing. If I have to name three people whom I am indebted to in this beautiful journey of mine, then it is my father for his efforts, my personal coach Amit Bhandari sir [former India and Delhi pacer], and above everyone else Gauti bhaiyya [Gambhir],” Rana was quoted by PTI.

“If my outlook towards the game has changed, a lot of it has got to do with Gauti bhaiyya’s presence in the KKR dressing room and how he changed my mindset. At the elite level, you require skills, but more than skills you require the heart to handle the pressure. Gauti bhaiyya would always tell me ‘Mere ko tere pe trust hai. Tu match jeetake aayega’. [I trust you, you can win the match].

Rana had a successful 2022-23 first-class season with Delhi, taking 21 wickets in five Ranji Trophy games. With the white ball, he has bowled outstanding for Delhi, taking 22 wickets in 14 Vijay Hazare Trophy games and 28 in 25 Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 matches.

In the IPL 2024, he finished with 19 wickets in 13 games for KKR, who ultimately won their title IPL title.

“If you ask about the pressure part, it is Gautam Gambhir’s advice. He would say, ‘What’s the worst thing that will happen? You will get hit and we can lose the match. But if you don’t face your fears, how will you overcome them?'[I learnt] there will always be a new day, a new match and things will fall in place. That’s what you train for,” he added.

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