News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/19th July 2024
“Delhi mein dil toot sakta hai par humne kabhi hausla nahi haraa” (Delhi can break your heart but I never lost hope). These were the emotional words of Harshit Rana after receiving his first call-up to the Indian ODI team, which includes cricketing icons like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
The 22-year-old fast bowler from South Extension in Delhi had long been grinding through the junior levels, often being overlooked. However, a remarkable season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) saw him take 19 wickets, putting him firmly in the national selectors’ spotlight.
Rana’s journey has been one of resilience and dedication. Despite the setbacks, he always believed in hard work. “Whenever I got hurt after being overlooked in age-group teams, I would sit in my room and start sobbing. My father, Pradeep, never gave up hope,” Rana shared.
He attributes his success to three key people: his father, his personal coach Amit Bhandari, and Gautam Gambhir. “If I have to name three people whom I am indebted to in this beautiful journey of mine, then it is my father, for his efforts, my personal coach Amit Bhandari sir, and above everyone else, Gauti bhaiyya (Gautam Gambhir),” Rana said.
Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer, and current mentor in KKR, played a significant role in shaping Rana’s outlook towards the game. “At the elite level, you require skills, but more than skills, you need the heart to handle the pressure. Gauti bhaiyya would always tell me, ‘I trust you, you can win the match’,” Rana recalled.
In 2022, Rana made a promising start by playing seven Ranji Trophy games for Delhi, taking 28 wickets. However, injuries limited his participation in red-ball cricket. In white-ball formats, he has been exceptional, taking 22 wickets in 14 games in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and 28 scalps in 25 T20 matches.
Rana’s performance in the IPL, particularly at Eden Gardens, was notable. He excelled in delivering blockhole balls, wide yorkers, and slow bouncers under pressure. “If you ask about the pressure part, it is Gautam Gambhir’s advice. He would say, ‘What’s the worst thing that will happen? You will get hit, and we can lose the match. But if you don’t face your fears, how will you overcome them?’ There will always be a new day, a new match, and things will fall in place,” said Rana.
Rana’s personal coaches, Bhandari and Narinder Singh Negi, have also been pivotal in his development. Bhandari, who played a few ODIs for India, recounted his first meeting with Rana. “I didn’t know who this boy was. In fact, when he came to me, he had not played for KKR but had played Ranji Trophy. He called me up and said, ‘Sir, can you train me?’”
Impressed by Rana’s dedication and potential, Bhandari worked on refining his technique. “What I saw was a nice run-up, but once he reached the crease, after load-up, everything needed a bit of work. The non-bowling hand, alignment, and he was ready to work,” Bhandari said.
Bhandari believes that Rana has the potential to excel at the international level. He highlighted the systemic challenges in Delhi cricket but emphasized that true talent always finds a way. “If you are a talented Delhi cricketer, the system can’t stop you. And if you aren’t, then even in 15 years, you won’t make it,” Bhandari said.
Harshit Rana’s story is a testament to perseverance, hard work, and the importance of having the right mentors. His journey from a young cricketer facing rejections to joining the ranks of the Indian ODI team is truly inspiring.
