India head coach Gautam Gambhir has ended months of speculation surrounding his strong backing of young pacer Harshit Rana, confirming that the 23-year-old’s batting potential is the primary reason for his rapid elevation across formats. Speaking after India’s ODI series victory over South Africa, Gambhir outlined a clear long-term vision of grooming Rana as a genuine seam-bowling all-rounder capable of occupying the crucial No. 8 position, particularly with the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa in mind.

Gambhir emphasised the necessity of fielding three frontline seamers on the pace-friendly pitches expected in South Africa in two years’ time, while maintaining lower-order batting depth. “That’s one of the reasons we are trying to develop someone like Harshit, who can bat at 8 and contribute significantly with the bat,” he stated, adding that a fully fit Jasprit Bumrah combined with the emerging trio of Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Rana would provide the ideal balance for overseas conditions.

The coach acknowledged that Rana, Arshdeep, and Prasidh collectively possess limited 50-over experience—fewer than 15 ODIs each—but praised their impactful performances in the current series. He stressed the importance of continued investment in youth, even as senior pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj remain unavailable for the format, indicating that opportunities will keep flowing for the younger brigade.

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Harshit Rana’s first-class credentials lend weight to Gambhir’s projection: in 14 matches, the Delhi seamer averages 31.18 with the bat, including one century and two half-centuries, numbers that mark him as one of the more accomplished lower-order batsmen among India’s current pace battery. His ability to deliver useful runs alongside wicket-taking bowling has evidently convinced the team management of his all-format utility.

With the 2027 World Cup serving as the ultimate target, Gambhir’s strategic push for Harshit Rana signals a deliberate shift toward building a versatile, future-ready bowling unit that can adapt to diverse conditions while preserving batting depth—an approach that could define India’s white-ball planning in the coming years.

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