Gambhir’s 'Pathan' Experiment? Wants This Bowler To Turn Into All-Rounder

The Indians are very much aware of what happened when a certain Greg Chappell obsessed over the batting skills of a genuine pacer in early 2000. However, that experiment has redeveloped as Gautam Gambhir, the current head coach, is wanting to turn another pure bowler into an all-rounder.

Harshit Rana, who was drafted into the team as a pure bowler with speciality in middle and death overs, will now have to carry the burden of being India’s number six as well.

“We are trying to 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 in two years’ time, we would be needing three proper seamers as well,” Gambhir was quoted as saying ESPNcricinfo.

“If he can continue to develop as a bowling allrounder, it’s going to give us a massive boost,” he added.

The reason why Gambhir wants Rana, who has a First-Class average of 31 and  a century as well, could be the third seamer for India and also chip in with the bat as the remaining three specialist bowlers could be non-batters.

It is most likely that India’s combination will be one spinner, two pacers, and they will be Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and one between either Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishana or any other bowler that comes up in between now and 2027

Presenting the same reason, Gambhir said, “Because obviously with Jasprit Bumrah coming back, and what we saw of Arshdeep, Prasidh, and Harshit in this series, was incredible.”

India will prioritise their ODI game once the T20 World Cup and Indian Premier League (IPL) get over by the end of May 2026.