by According to reports, pacer Harshit Rana has been named in the Indian team ahead of the Mumbai Test against New Zealand.
It was reported by the Indian Express On Tuesday (October 29), Rana announced that Rana had been named in India’s squad for the Mumbai Test match and could even make his international debut in that match, just days after he was named in India’s squad for the tour to Australia later this year was recorded month.
The news sparked anger among a section of Indian fans who believed that India head coach Gautam Gambhir had deliberately delayed Rana’s debut to enable Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to retain him as an uncapped player for the upcoming IPL season . Before taking over as India coach, Gambhir had led KKR to the title this year.
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As per the IPL’s new retention rules, any uncapped player can be retained by a franchise for an auction price deduction of Rs 4 crore. Players are considered uncapped players if they have not played for India before the holding period expires on October 31, 2024.
Should Rana make his debut for India in the third Test, it would come just a day after the deadline. He was also part of the Indian squad for the home T20I series against Bangladesh, but did not play a match and missed the last one due to a viral infection.
The Delhi pacer was in the Indian squad as a traveling reserve at the start of the series in Bengaluru and Pune before being released for the Ranji Trophy match against Assam. He scored a fifty and took a five-wicket haul in Delhi’s 10-wicket win over Assam.
Abhishek Nayar: There have been no additions to the Indian squad for the Mumbai Test
However, these reports have since been refuted by India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, who told reporters on Wednesday that no additions had been made to the Indian squad for the third Test.
A Times of India report on Wednesday said that while Rana has been called up to bowl against India’s squad members in the nets, he has not yet been included in the main squad for the third Test.
Sarandeep Singh: Better for Harshit and India if he plays a Test before Australia
“The team management wanted me to play domestic cricket before going to Australia. I am happy that I performed well with both the bat and the ball in this game,” said Rana after his heroics against Assam.
Delhi coach and former international Sarandeep Singh is happy to see the pacer in Indian colors. “If India wants him to play, I would like to see it. If he ends up playing a Test before going to Australia, then it will be better for Harshit and also for India that they get a good fast bowler,” Sarandeep said the Indian Express.
“I told Rana that he is close to a chance for India and that he should take a dime here. He was pumped up and brought here. That’s just how a coach talks. He is ready to play straight away,” the Delhi coach added.
Rana has an impressive first-class record, taking 43 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 24 and a strike rate of 36.0 with best figures of 10-108. He is also a very capable batsman and has scored 469 runs in 14 innings at an average of 42.63 and a best of 122*.
The third Test match is scheduled to begin on Friday (November 1) in Wankhede, Mumbai. Even with New Zealand taking an unassailable 2-0 lead, there is still a lot at stake for India as they look to maintain their place in the top two in the World Test Championship 2023-25 table and also avoid a whitewash on home soil.
