Harshit Rana making his case for 2027 as he made the most of the new ball on a flat Ranchi pitch and kept batters on their toes.
Harshit Rana takes the first step in fast bowlers’ race for 2027 World Cup.
India’s best XI in any format starts with Jasprit Bumrah. At the 2027 World Cup, he will spearhead the bowling assault and ensure ten magical overs.
Second in command is Mohammed Siraj. He can be hit or miss in white-ball cricket. He missed the Champions Trophy but was such a hit in an Asia Cup final a couple of years ago that the opponent scorecard looked like this.
Hardik Pandya, who is returning to competitive cricket for the first time since his injury in September, will be vital to balance the team in international conditions. That leaves only one spot open for Harshit Rana (28 List A matches), Arshdeep Singh (40) and Prasidh Krishna (75) to fight for.
Ranchi was a high-pressure scenario in the right format, and Rana handled it well. He struck up two wickets in an over, which eventually meant South Africa were already stuttering at 11 for 3 chasing 350. Ryan Rickelton was bowled playing a defensive shot and Quinton de Kock was caught behind on the drive.
The procedure went beyond those outcomes. Rana didn’t waste the small window, under lights, when a brand new, still dry ball was willing to zip around. That alone was good job. The wickets (three) and the win may perhaps confirm it.
With Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav as banking bowlers who can generate and maintain pressure from the other end, India is willing to pay the price for Rana’s commitment to this job at the expense of his economy rate. They must also admire how Rana doesn’t flinch when things go wrong.
On Sunday, he took a no-look six on from Dewald Brevis in his stride in one over. Dismissed him in the very next. When Corbin Bosch saw through his slower ball and sent it into the stands, he clenched his teeth. Then destroyed the momentum with a couple of excellent yorkers. Rana still requires some work, but has potential.
Two years ago when India were in Centurion, they sought to lean into a pitch with pace and bounce by picking Prasidh in their Test team. After South Africa defeated them on the previous tour with a similar tactic, his ability to strike the deck hard and release from a high-arm motion were viewed as advantages. It didn’t exactly pan out but not because it was weak logic.
Arshdeep’s talents are more traditional and his left-arm angle might be a useful point of differentiation. There’s his composure at the death as well. After South Africa had reduced the score to 38 off 24, he bowled a wicket-maiden in the 47th over.
The attention in that game and in any ODI that India play lately tends to be elsewhere, but these three are quite distinct fast bowlers and the way they’re getting along makes for interesting viewing too.