Harshit Rana snubs 'concussion substitute' controversy after impressive ODI debut
What's the story
India's fast bowling sensation Harshit Rana bowled a stellar spell on his ODI debut. Despite a rough start, including a 26-run over, the 23-year-old cricketer picked up three wickets in his second spell. His performance and crucial knocks from Shreyar Iyer, Shubman Gill, and Axar Patel helped India clinch a four-wicket victory over England in the opening ODI in Nagpur. Here's what the young pacer had to say.
Controversy addressed
Rana's response to concussion-sub controversy
Rana was recently at the center of a concussion substitute controversy. He replaced Shivam Dube, who was hit on the helmet in one of India's T20Is against England. The decision drew criticism from England as Dube is a batting all-rounder while Rana is a fast bowler. When asked about the substitution after India's first ODI win in the post-match press conference, Rana said, "I believe that people will keep on talking. I just want to play, good or bad."
Performance priority
Rana's focus on performance amid controversy
Rana stressed on his country and performance, saying, "I'm not bothered, I just want to deliver for my country. I don't pay attention to those talks." Notably, Dube's ouster saw Rana make his T20I debut in Pune. He easily broke England's middle and lower order just when they looked like getting back on track in their chase of 182. He then finished with a match-winning spell of 3/33.
Debut details
Rana's ODI debut: A tale of resilience and triumph
Rana's ODI debut was all about resilience. His Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) teammate, Phil Salt, went berserk against him in just his third over. However, the pacer made a strong comeback by sending Ben Duckett and Harry Brook back in the same over later on. He accepted the ups and downs of cricket and said, "I only wanted to focus on my length, bowl where I have to, and I got the reward for that later."
Game insights
Rana's insights on challenges and adaptability in ODIs
Rana also spoke about the difficulties of the 50-over format, where bowlers have to adjust themselves during different phases. "This format is a bit difficult because it's a long format, you get 10 overs. You have to play different roles in different phases. But if you practice it (well), it's good," he said. Despite early trouble, Rana made a strong comeback in his second spell by sticking to his favorite lengths and getting two big wickets.