Harshit Rana Dismisses New-Ball Concerns in Jasprit Bumrah’s Absence After India Win

Harshit Rana defended India’s new-ball bowling in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence after playing a key role in the four-wicket win over New Zealand in Vadodara.

India pacer Harshit Rana refuted claims that the team struggled to pick up wickets with the new ball in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, stating that both he and Mohammed Siraj bowled with control and did not concede many runs in the early overs of the first ODI against New Zealand.

Rana once again rose to the occasion in Vadodara, picking up two crucial wickets and contributing a vital 29 off 23 balls as India sealed a four-wicket victory at the BCA Stadium on Sunday, January 11. The young pacer came close to winning the Player of the Match award, but it eventually went to Virat Kohli for his match-defining 93 in the chase of 301.

The match did not start well for India, as New Zealand openers Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls put together a commanding 117-run partnership. With the visitors looking firmly in control, Rana turned the game around by striking twice to remove both openers and break the momentum.

Harshit Rana Answers Effectiveness With The Ball

After the match, a journalist questioned India’s effectiveness with the new ball in Bumrah’s absence. “We can see that, in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. We can see a problem in Indian bowling. With the new ball, the wickets aren’t coming easily. So, what is the reason for that?” the journalist asked.

Rana responded firmly at the post-match press conference. “I don’t know which cricket you have seen. If you look at it today, if he has not got any wickets, Siraj has bowled very well. We have not even given away any runs with the new ball,” he said.

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The pacer further explained India’s approach in the format. “And it isn’t like that. It’s like, if you don’t get wickets with the new ball, you will take them out in the middle. This is the ODI phase,” Rana added.

In the run chase, India appeared well in control before Kohli was dismissed in the 40th over. Although a brief collapse followed, the hosts held their nerve and crossed the target in the penultimate over, finishing on 306/6 to take a 1-0 lead in the series.