Harshit Rana credits Gautam Gambhir after maiden ODI call-up

Indian fast bowler Harshit Rana's journey from Delhi's streets to his maiden India ODI call-up is proof of his hard work and dedication. The 22-year-old speedster is set to play alongside cricketing icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the upcoming series.

Rana's path to success was far from smooth. Growing up in Delhi's South Extension, he faced numerous setbacks and overlooked opportunities in age-group teams. However, his breakthrough came during the recent IPL season, where he claimed 19 wickets for the Kolkata Knight Riders, catching the selectors' attention. Reflecting on his journey, Rana credits three pivotal figures, his father Pradeep, personal coach Amit Bhandari, and most importantly, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir.

“If I have to name three people whom I am indebted to in this beautiful journey of mine, then it is my father for his efforts, my personal coach Amit Bhandari sir (former India and Delhi pacer), and above everyone else Gauti bhaiyya (Gautam Gambhir),” Rana was quoted as saying by News18.

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Lot of it has got to do with Gauti bhaiyya’s presence in the KKR dressing room: Harshit Rana

Gautam Gambhir's impact on Harshit Rana's mental approach to the game cannot be overstated. The former Indian opener instilled confidence in the young pacer during the recent cash-rich league.

“If my outlook towards the game has changed, a lot of it has got to do with Gauti bhaiyya’s presence in the KKR dressing room and how he changed my mindset. At the elite level, you require skills but more than skills you require the heart to handle the pressure. Gauti bhaiyya would always tell me ‘Mere ko tere pe trust hai. Tu match jeetake aayega’. (I trust you, you can win the match),” Rana recalled his interactions with the new India head coach," he added.

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Notably, Rana has been exceptional in white-ball cricket, taking 22 wickets in 14 Vijay Hazare Trophy games and 28 in 25 T20 matches. His ability to execute crucial deliveries shows his growth as a bowler. The young pacer's skills have been further honed by his personal coaches, Amit Bhandari and Narinder Singh Negi. Bhandari, impressed by Rana's dedication, worked on refining his bowling action and alignment. 

“If you ask about the pressure part it is Gautam Gambhir’s advice. He would say, ‘what’s the worst thing that will happen?' You will get hit and we can lose the match. But if you don’t face your fears, how will you overcome them," Rana added.

“I didn’t know who this boy was. In fact, when he came to me, he had not played for KKR but had played Ranji Trophy. He only called me up and said, ‘sir, can you train me. What I saw was a nice run-up but once he reached the crease, after load-up, everything needed a bit of work. The non-bowling hand, alignment and he was ready to work,” Bhandari said.