Harshit Rana Listens to Rohit Sharma, Strikes Key Wicket After Ignoring Gill

India fast bowler Harshit Rana delivered a standout performance with figures of 4/39 in the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday, helping silence critics who had questioned his inclusion in the touring squad. The 23-year-old Delhi pacer, making his mark in only his second international appearance, claimed the wickets of Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, and Josh Hazlewood while also contributing with the bat lower down the order. His disciplined bowling, particularly with the new ball, underlined his growing maturity in the 50-over format amid intense scrutiny over his selection for the series Down Under.

The most memorable moment for Rana came with the dismissal of Mitchell Owen, which he later described as his prized wicket of the match. In a post-match interaction, Rana recounted ignoring stand-in captain Shubman Gill’s suggestion to keep a slip fielder in place during Owen’s innings.

Instead, he heeded advice from former skipper Rohit Sharma, who was fielding at cover and insisted on the slip’s presence. “Shubman asked me if I wanted a slip, and I said no,” Rana explained. “Then Rohit bhai said, ‘Take the slip, let me go.’ I thought, why not? And on the next ball, I got the wicket.”

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The dismissal highlighted the dynamic leadership transition within the Indian side, with Gill leading the ODI team in Rohit Sharma’s absence during this series. Rana’s immediate reward—an edged catch to slip—drew playful acknowledgement from Gill on the field, who pointed toward the bowler as if to remind him of the earlier advice. Rana credited the tactical input from Sharma, emphasising his trust in the senior player’s on-field instincts despite the change in captaincy.

Reflecting on his overall approach, Rana stressed consistency over aggression in Sydney’s conditions. “I wasn’t trying to attack early; I focused on line, length, and bowling in the right areas,” he said on JioStar’s Cricket Live. He also highlighted his developing outswing as a key weapon, one he executed effectively throughout the spell.

With this performance, Rana has not only justified his selection but also signalled his potential as a reliable asset in India’s pace arsenal across formats.

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