Young pacer Harshit Rana delivered a coming-of-age performance at the Sydney Cricket Ground, producing his career-best figures of 4 for 39 to help India stay alive in the ODI series against Australia. Drafted into the playing XI ahead of Arshdeep Singh, Rana’s impressive mix of bounce, aggression, and precision under pressure justified the faith shown in him by mentor Gautam Gambhir. The 23-year-old’s fiery spell not only pulled India back into contention but also silenced the mounting criticism surrounding his selection.

Former India fast bowler Varun Aaron was among the first to praise the young seamer’s controlled aggression, pointing out the evolving maturity in his bowling. “He bowled a really good slower ball, around 110 kmph, and then followed it up with one at 140 kmph. Once he perfects that delivery, Rana can build his entire game around it,” Aaron observed on the post-match show. He added that the difference between Rana’s first and second spells demonstrated his ability to adapt quickly — a quality vital to surviving in modern-day international cricket.

Rana’s spell had everything — pace, movement, and control. He dismissed Alex Carey, Mitchell Owen, Cooper Connolly, and Josh Hazlewood in a fiery display that left Australia reeling. His sharp 141.8 kmph delivery to remove Owen was the highlight of the innings, drawing comparisons to seasoned pacers. Aaron termed the selection a “masterstroke,” emphasizing that Rana’s growth is a sign of India’s promising fast-bowling future, especially ahead of the team’s upcoming tour of South Africa.

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The stellar performance came after weeks of intense scrutiny. Critics like Mohammad Kaif and Kris Srikkanth questioned Rana’s credentials, calling him a product of “favoritism.” However, Gambhir firmly defended him earlier this week, insisting the 23-year-old had earned his place on merit. “If you’re criticising youngsters just to run your YouTube channels, it’s unfair,” Gambhir said. On Saturday, Rana answered his doubters in the best way possible — four wickets, renewed confidence, and a statement that India’s next pace spearhead has arrived.

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