Gautam Gambhir's favoritism? Harshit Rana to join India test squad for England tour - reports

Harshit Rana made his test debut in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Reports have stated that Gautam Gambhir’s favorite, Delhi pacer Harshit Rana, has been asked to stay back in England for the five-match test series that begins on June 20 in Leeds.

The intra-squad encounter in Kent, which was primarily viewed as a rehearsal for the senior Indian side captained by Shubman Gill, may have served as a prelude to the test matches against England. It did, however, give the India A players another chance to establish their value and perhaps even compel a last-minute alteration.

Fast bowler Harshit Rana, who was a member of the India A team, will remain in England and will not be traveling back to India on June 17 with the other members of the ‘A’ team, according to a report in the Times of India.

He made his test debut on an Australian tour, taking four wickets at an average of 50.75 in two test matches, with his best performance being 3/48 in Perth. Because the selection committee, under the direction of Ajit Agarkar, preferred Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna over him, he was not selected for the five-match series against England.

Harshit Rana asked to stay back as a backup pace option: Reports

Rana traveled to England to play two four-day games against the England Lions and an intra-squad match against the test team at Beckenham with the India “A” team. Rana hasn’t been formally included in the team yet, though.

Rana played the first match for India A against England Lions at Canterbury, where he returned figures of 1/99 in 27 overs and scored 16 runs.

This choice may have been made in part because the first test pitch at Headingley, Leeds, has a lush green appearance, making a bowler with pace and bounce like Rana useful in those conditions. Due to workload management, Jasprit Bumrah, India’s top bowler and premier pacer, is also anticipated to miss miss some of the five tests.

On Tuesday, the remaining players of the India “A” team who are not in the main test squad or who have not yet signed a county cricket contract will board the plane to return home. After taking 48 wickets in 13 First-Class (FC) cricket matches, the Delhi pacer has an overall average of 27.79 with the ball. Along with hitting two fifties and a century, his batting average is 32.80.

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