Under-Fire Harshit Rana Answers Critics With Impressive 4-Fer In Sydney

He’s been criticised heavily for ‘not earning’ his spot in the starting XI, across formats for India, and eyebrows were raised today as well, after he was picked ahead of Arshdeep Singh for the third ODI. 

Indeed, Harshit Rana entered the Sydney match under immense pressure, not least because he was backed and picked despite taking 2/59 at 7.37 RPO as compared to Arshdeep’s 2/41 at 4.92 RPO in the second game in Adelaide. 

And yet, on the day, Harshit shut out the outside noise in style to pick up an impressive 4-fer at the SCG to help India bowl Australia out cheaply. The 23-year-old ran through Australia’s power lower middle-order to ensure India took firm control of the third ODI after getting off to a shaky start with the ball in hand.

Harshit did not strike with the new ball, but it was he who triggered Australia’s collapse from 183/3 to 236 all-out. The right-armer first ended the 59-run stand between Alex Carey and Matthew Renshaw with a quick delivery outside off-stump, which the former sliced and held out in front of third man. 

Mitchell Owen took the game away from India in Adelaide, but today, Harshit ensured that a repeat was not going to take place, as he sent the Punjab Kings star packing for just one. Shubman Gill prudently had a slip in place for Owen, and Harshit got the big-hitting right-hander caught at first slip with a peach. 

The two back-to-back strikes put Australia on the back foot, and at 236/8 with four overs to go, the hosts’ sole hope was young Cooper Connolly, who was the last man standing. But just as Connolly was looking to unleash, Harshit deceived him with a fine slower ball. 

He then immediately castled Josh Hazlewood with a quicker, fuller delivery to wrap up the Australian innings and finish with figures of 4/39 - the third-best for an Indian at the SCG in history.