23-year-old Harshit Rana was preferred over Kuldeep Yadav for a place in India’s playing XI for the first ODI against Australia in Perth on Sunday (October 19), but the Delhi-based cricketer failed to impress
with his performance. He could only manage to score 1 run from two balls after walking out to bat at No. 9 and then conceded 27 runs in his quota of four overs. For his below-average show in the contest that India lost by 7 wickets, Rana faced a lot of criticism from fans, former greats and experts of the game.
Former India A captain Priyank Panchal took to X on Sunday afternoon to post a tweet in which he asked the Indian team management to expose Rana to the No. 8 role and not shield him by playing an extra batter.
He also suggested that for the next match, which will be played at Adelaide Oval on Thursday (October 23), India should consider including Kuldeep Yadav in the XI in place of Nitish Kumar Reddy or Washington Sundar.
“If Harshit Rana is being seen as someone who can tonk the ball at No. 8, then we should expose him to that role in the next two years and not shield him by including an additional batter. Kuldeep should come in for Nitish or Washi, as in Jassi’s absence he’s the go-to wicket taker #AUSvIND,” Panchal tweeted.
Rana, who made his international debut for India last year in November during a Test match against Australia in Perth, has played in all three formats of the game for India in the last one year but he is yet to live up to the expectations in even one match.
Rana’s figures in international cricket
The fast bowler from Delhi, who represents Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, has picked up 4 wickets in two Tests, 10 wickets in six ODIs and 5 wickets in three T20I matches. With the bat, he has scored 7 runs in Tests, 14 in ODIs and 13 in T20Is.
