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Why does Gautam Gambhir back Harshit Rana so much? RR's IPL mainstay reveals

Soumyajit Dutta

Harshit Rana, Gautam Gambhir and Sandeep Sharma [Source: @KKR_Xtra/X.com]Harshit Rana, Gautam Gambhir and Sandeep Sharma [Source: @KKR_Xtra/X.com]

An old clip of cricketer Sandeep Sharma has gone viral after Harshit Rana's match-winning spell in the first ODI against South Africa, which helped India secure a 17-run victory. 

The old clip essentially underlines the reason why Harshit Rana is always backed by the selectors and India coach Gautam Gambhir, even when he is under fire from critics and netizens.

Sandeep Sharma busts the boot licking myth for Harshit Rana

On the podcast Talk with Manvendra, Sharma explained that investing in a unique talent requires patience for it to fully develop. He outlined the clear reasoning behind supporting Rana.

“You either identify a skill or a talent, or once you identify that talent, you give it enough time to mature. That’s what has happened with him. He bowls over 140, has good height, a strong build. If you work with him for a couple of years, he can become a very good bowler,” Sharma said in the podcast.

Sandeep Sharma added that developing fast bowlers is an inherent gamble that selectors must take. 

“If you pick five such players, only one or two turn out well. Three or four times you will be wrong. That is why it is tough for selectors because they have to take chances. He is 23 to 24 and will have to play, take a few hits and grow,” Sharma said.

Rana hits back at critics with flashy performance

This perspective felt especially relevant after Rana's performance. Sharing the new ball, he took three key wickets, dismissing Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock, and Dewald Brevis to disrupt South Africa's chase of 350 runs.

Rana's journey has faced some criticism, including being unfairly labelled a "yes man" to coach Gautam Gambhir, a remark Gambhir called "shameful." However, with 19 wickets in nine ODIs and impactful spells in Australia and now Ranchi, Rana is steadily justifying the faith shown in him.