Harshit Rana Credits Gautam Gambhir For His Rise In Cricket Ahead Of Sri Lanka Tour

"Delhi mein dil toot sakta hai par humne kabhi hausla nahi haraa (You can get hurt in Delhi but I never lost hope)." These were the emotional words of Harshit Rana upon learning about his maiden call-up to the Indian ODI team, which features icons like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

The 22-year-old speedster from Delhi's South Extension, who has faced numerous challenges since his junior cricket days, finally made his mark after a stellar IPL season with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where he took 19 wickets in their triumphant campaign.

Rana's journey has been marked by ups and downs. In 2022, he started strong by playing seven Ranji Trophy games for Delhi, taking 28 wickets. However, injuries hindered his progress in red-ball cricket.

Despite these setbacks, he excelled in white-ball cricket, taking 22 wickets in 14 Vijay Hazare Trophy games and 28 wickets in 25 T20 matches. His performances at Eden Gardens, in front of 60,000 spectators, showcased his ability to deliver under pressure with blockhole deliveries, wide yorkers, and slow bouncers.

Rana trained under Bhandari and Narinder Singh Negi at Delhi's Players' Academy, refining his skill set over the past two years. Amit Bhandari, who played a few ODIs for India between 2000 and 2004 and is now an assistant coach with the Gujarat Titans, recalled their first meeting.

"I didn't know who this boy was. When he came to me, he had not played for KKR but had played Ranji Trophy. He called me up and asked, 'Sir, can you train me?'" Bhandari was initially cautious, giving Rana an old ball and specific instructions to follow. Impressed by his commitment and potential, Bhandari began working with him, focusing on his run-up, alignment, and non-bowling hand.

Support System

"If I have to name three people who have been crucial in this journey," Rana said during an exclusive interaction with PTI. "It would be my father for his unwavering support, my personal coach Amit Bhandari (former India and Delhi pacer), and above all, Gauti bhaiyya (Gautam Gambhir)."

Rana credits Gambhir for significantly shaping his outlook towards the game. "Gauti bhaiyya changed my mindset. At the elite level, skills are important but handling pressure is crucial. He always told me 'Mere ko tere pe trust hai. Tu match jeetake aayega' (I trust you; you can win the match)."

Handling Pressure

When asked about handling pressure, Rana attributed it to Gambhir's advice. "Gautam bhaiyya told me 'What's the worst that will happen? You'll get hit and we might 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 into place. That's what you train for," he said.

Bhandari's Perspective

Bhandari believes Rana has the potential to excel at the international level. "In Delhi you often hear about corruption groupism and nepotism. But look at the genuine Delhi greats. Most have played for India within two years of their Delhi debut."

"Viru (Sehwag) Gauti (Gambhir) Ishant (Sharma) Rishabh (Pant) all had talent and didn't linger in domestic cricket for long. If you're a talented Delhi cricketer the system can't stop you. And if you aren't even 15 years won't make a difference," Bhandari said.

"I believed in working hard but whenever I was overlooked in age-group teams I would sit in my room and sob. My father Pradeep never gave up hope," Rana shared during an exclusive interaction with PTI.