Harshit Rana, the young Delhi pacer recently called up to India’s Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, made a strong case for himself on Saturday. On a greenish surface at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, the 22-year-old delivered a fiery spell, dismantling Assam’s top order and capturing four crucial wickets in Ranji Trophy.
Early dominance by Harshit Rana
Fresh from his India selection, Harshit Rana showcased his skill with the new ball, achieving figures of 5-3-5-2 in his opening spell. After being out of competitive cricket for nearly a month and a half, he quickly adapted to the conditions, utilising the extra pace and bounce from the surface.
In just 15 balls, Rana claimed his first scalp, Assam opener Subham Mandal, with a sharp catch at first slip by Yash Dhull. Two balls later, he dismissed Abhishek Thakuri for a duck, rattling Assam’s line-up early on.
Key dismissals amid Assam’s resistance
Assam managed to stabilise with a 49-run stand between Rishav Das and captain Denish Das. Rana returned before lunch, troubling both batters with short-pitched deliveries. The plan paid off when Rishav Das failed to control a pull shot, and a sharp catch down the leg side ended his stay at the crease.
Despite resistance from Assam, Rana remained persistent, eventually claiming his fourth wicket in his final spell, dismissing Swarupam Purkayastha.
Return after Injury and Rise Through IPL success
This match marked Rana’s comeback to the Delhi squad after missing the previous season due to a hamstring injury. His recent success with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, where he claimed 19 wickets, contributed significantly to his rise.
Harshit Rana’s impressive performance caught the attention of Gautam Gambhir and Abhishek Nayar, and he earned a spot in India’s T20I series against Bangladesh, though he did not play. Now, with the Test squad call-up, Rana’s stocks have skyrocketed as he builds on his momentum.
Delhi’s Bold Four-Pace Attack
Delhi adopted an unusual four-pronged pace attack, including Rana, Siddhant Sharma, Himanshu Chauhan, and debutant Money Grewal. Siddhant bowled in tandem with Rana, maintaining pressure, though Chauhan struggled with his line and length.
Grewal was unlucky in his debut as a few chances went uncapitalised, with two slip catches missed by Yash Dhull and Sanat Sangwan. Although Delhi’s pace-centric strategy showed promise, the team only managed to bowl 76 overs on the opening day.
Match Status: Assam’s Solid Response
At stumps on Day 1, Assam posted 264 for 6, led by Sumit Ghadigaonkar, who remained unbeaten on 120, and Sibsankar Roy, who contributed 59. Despite Rana’s early breakthroughs, Assam’s middle order fought back to put up a respectable total.
Brief Scores:
Assam 264/6 in 76 overs (Sumit Ghadigaonkar 120 not out, Sibsankar Roy 59; Harshit Rana 4/62).
Rana’s fiery performance on the green Kotla pitch provided a thrilling preview of what India’s newest fast-bowling talent can bring to the national squad.
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