• Home
  • Who Said What
  • Harshit Rana Snatches Gautam Gambhirs Credit For His Batting Surge Gives It To Someone Else

Harshit Rana snatches Gautam Gambhir's credit for his batting surge; gives it to someone else

Aakash Saini

Gautam Gambhir and Harshit Rana [Source: @KKRWeRule/x]Gautam Gambhir and Harshit Rana [Source: @KKRWeRule/x]

Pacer Harshit Rana was in fine form as team India scraped home against New Zealand in the first ODI to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. 

Chasing 301 at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, seasoned pro Virat Kohli top-scored with a classy 93-run knock after captain and opening batter Shubman Gill notched up an elegant half-century.

Comeback man Shreyas Iyer also scored a swift 49, but it was a handy 23-ball 29 by fast bowler Harshit Rana at number seven that swung the momentum India’s way, lending the chase an unexpected edge at a crucial juncture for the hosts.

Harshit Rana credits father for match-winning knock vs NZ

While speaking with BCCI.tv after the match, Indian fast bowler Harshit Rana credited his father Pradeep Rana after his match-winning batting heroics against New Zealand in Vadodara. Harshit said that his father always wanted him to take batting seriously as all-rounders tend to make it to Team India squad.

He said, “My father wanted me to take batting seriously because he thought all-rounders tend to make their India debuts sooner.”

Harshit added that he wants to work more towards his batting to be able a get a handy cameo while batting with the tail. He stated, “I am developing my batting, so that I can score crucial runs for the team at number eight.”

Harshit– The all-round catalyst behind India’s win

Harshit Rana, who made his all-format India debuts between late-2024 and early 2025 all with the backing of national head coach Gautam Gambhir, continues to justify the faith reposed in him with impactful contributions that go beyond his primary role as a fast bowler.

Even in the series-opening first ODI against New Zealand, Rana picked up two wickets with the ball, that of both well-set openers, before clubbing a handy 29 in a tense run-chase.

India’s latest all-round apparent, along with his teammates, will now face New Zealand in the second ODI on January 14 in Rajkot.