Indian bowler Harshit Rana hasn’t been included in the team for the last Test against New Zealand. According to the Times of India, Harshit was only asked to bowl in the nets before the final game of the series.
Recently many reports suggested that the BCCI added Harshit Rana to the team for the last match. They claimed he was joining the team in Mumbai and would debut at the Wankhede Stadium.
However a source close to the BCCI denied all reports of Harshit being added to the team. The source said there was no meeting between the selectors and team management about including Harshit for the Mumbai Test.
The BCCI source also shared that either Mohammed Siraj or Akashdeep would be partnering with Jasprit Bumrah in the XI for the final game. He confirmed that Harshit was brought in only to bowl in the nets and would soon join the Delhi team for their next Ranji game. Speaking to TOI, the source explained:
“Washington Sundar was added before the second Test after a meeting among selectors. No such meeting happened for Rana. Likely, one of Mohammed Siraj or Akashdeep Singh will partner with Jasprit Bumrah, along with three spinners in the XI. Rana was chosen as a reserve bowler for the New Zealand series.”
“With Delhi’s next Ranji match starting on November 6, he can bowl in the India nets for a few days before joining the Delhi squad. For now, he hasn’t been included in the squad.”
Harshit has quickly risen in Indian cricket since his standout performance in IPL 2024. Playing for Kolkata Knight Riders, he took 19 wickets in 13 games—the most among uncapped bowlers and the fifth-highest overall.
After that Harshit has been regularly traveling with the Indian team. He was set to debut in a T20I against Bangladesh but missed out due to a viral infection.
Currently Harshit is performing well in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy. He took five wickets and scored a fifty at No. 8 against Assam. He’s also part of the Indian team for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy where India will play five games in Australia.
