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Harshit Rana pissed at Jasprit Bumrah's hype; gets angry at a reporter in the Press Conference

Akshita Patel

Harshit Rana loses cool in press conference [Source: @Akshatgoel1408, @CricCrazyJohns/X.com]Harshit Rana loses cool in press conference [Source: @Akshatgoel1408, @CricCrazyJohns/X.com]

Young pacer Harshit Rana was in no mood to entertain doubts after India’s first ODI win over New Zealand in Vadodara. Questioned about India’s new-ball struggles in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, Rana gave a sharp reply to a reporter.

In the match, he picked two key wickets and scored a quick 29 as India chased down 301 to take a 1-0 lead in the series. 

But when a reporter questioned India’s pace attack’s credibility without Bumrah, Rana lost his cool.

Harshit Rana hits back at the reporter over the Jasprit Bumrah mention

During the post-match press conference, a journalist suggested that India were struggling to take wickets with the new ball without Jasprit Bumrah, who has been rested for this ODI series.

However, Harshit Rana did not hold back, as he wasn’t amused by the question. He argued that India did control runs with the new ball in the first ODI, even though they failed to grab a wicket until the 22nd over.

“I don’t know which cricket you have seen. If you look at it today, if he has not got any wickets, Siraj has bowled very well. We have not even given away any runs with the new ball," Rana told press.

He added that in ODI cricket, it is not always necessary to take wickets early as long as pressure is built.

“And it isn’t like that. It’s like, if you don’t get wickets with the new ball, you will take them out in the middle. This is the ODI phase," he added.

Judging by his reply, Rana clearly felt that the criticism was unfair and that the bowling unit had done its job despite the absence of India’s spearhead.

Was Rana right? The numbers support him

Looking at how the match unfolded, his point holds weight. Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana kept things tight in the opening spell and did not allow New Zealand’s openers to go on a rampage. 

Yes, Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls put on 117 for the first wicket, but it was not a reckless assault. The run rate was controlled, and the pressure was building. 

Rana then turned the game on its head. He removed both Conway (56) and Nicholls (62) in quick succession, breaking a partnership that had started to look dangerous. 

Those two wickets shifted the momentum firmly in India’s favour. Siraj also finished with two wickets, while Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav chipped in later. 

The bowling effort was disciplined rather than spectacular, but it did the job. Without Jasprit Bumrah, India still restricted New Zealand to 300, which was very chaseable on a good batting surface. 

Virat Kohli’s knock guided India to a nervy win

Coming to the game, New Zealand, asked to bat first, reached 300/8 in 50 overs. After the solid opening stand, Daryl Mitchell played a fine knock of 84 off 71 balls.

Late cameos from Kristian Clarke (24*) pushed the total to a competitive score. In reply, India lost Rohit Sharma early for 26, but Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli steadied the innings. 

Gill scored 56, and Kohli started playing the anchor role with a match-winning knock of 93. Shreyas Iyer also contributed with valuable 49 runs, and though India lost a couple of wickets in the middle, they never conceded control either.

With Washington Sundar being troubled by a side strain, Harshit Rana stepped up with the bat, scoring 29 off 23 balls to ease the pressure. 

KL Rahul finished the chase with an unbeaten 29, as India reached 306/6 in the 49th over to seal a four-wicket win.

While Kohli deservedly took the Player of the Match award, Harshit Rana’s all-round impact stood out.