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India's Harshit Rana, centre, celebrates the wicket of South Africa's Dewald Brevis during the first One Day International match between India and South Africa in Ranchi, India, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
In recent times Harshit Rana has been in the eye of the storm with many experts as well as questioning his place in the Indian side. The KKR bowler on Sunday answered his critics with a devastating opening spell against South Africa where he snapped up 2 early wickets before wrapping up with another scalp.
“If I start listening to all these things, put them in my mind and take the field, I won’t be able to play cricket. I try to avoid as much as possible. I just pay attention to what I have to do on the ground. I don’t care about what is happening outside or what someone is saying about me. I just focus on my hard work and what I am going to do on the ground,” Rana said on how he deals with the criticism.
Talking about his spell on Sunday where he snapped up 3 wickets, Rana said he was working with bolwing coach Morne Morkel and Arshdeep Singh to improve his skills with the new ball.
“With the new ball I am practicing a lot with Morne (Morkel) and I keep talking to Arshdeep a lot. I feel that Arshdeep has a lot of experience and he keeps helping and guiding me during practice,” Rana said.
With one-ball rule post the 34th over mark in place, Rana said the Indian team keeps an eye on which among the two balls is getting comparatively older to select one.
“You know that bowlers do not get so much help in today’s cricket so this rule is very helpful for us and it is always on the mind to see which ball is getting older. And everyone is involved in choosing that ball,” he said.
Rana will next be seen in action against the Proteas at Raipur where India and South Africa will lock horns to play the 2nd ODI.
(With agency inputs)
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