New Delhi: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) would have breathed a sigh of relief after pacer Harshit Rana was not named in India’s playing XI for the 3rd and final T20I against Bangladesh at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday. Rana was expected to get a chance with India having already sealed the three-match series 2-0 with back-to-back wins in the first two matches.
However, that was not the case as skipper Suryakumar Yadav confirmed at the toss that there was only one change in India’s XI from the 2nd T20I in Delhi with pacer Arshdeep Singh making way for Ravi Bishnoi. The non-inclusion of Rana in the playing XI is good news for KKR ahead of the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction.
Why Harshit Rana not making the cut is good news for KKR?
Had Rana made the cut in India’s playing XI for the 3rd T20I against Bangladesh on Saturday, it would have been his official debut for the national team. His debut would have turned him into a capped player from an uncapped player ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Rana turning capped would have meant KKR would have had to splurge at least Rs 11 crore if they decided to retain the fast bowler from Delhi.
However, now that Harshit won’t be making his debut for India, he will remain an uncapped player. KKR can now retain the pacer for a much lower sum of Rs 4 crore. Rana was a vital cog in the KKR bowling line-up in IPL 2024 and played a key role in their title triumph with 19 wickets from 13 matches in the season.
Rana earned his maiden India call-up for the ODI series against Sri Lanka in August this year. However, he didn’t get a chance to make his debut. The same was the case in the T20I series against Bangladesh as he was once again kept on the bench for all three T20Is by head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Suryakumar Yadav.
Earlier, pacer Mayank Yadav and young all-rounder Nitish Reddy made their respective debuts for India in the 1st T20I against Bangladesh and became capped players. Their IPL franchises Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will now have to keep them in the bracket of capped players and spend at least Rs 11 crore to keep hold of them ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Harshit Rana was named in India’s playing XI for the thrid and final T20I against Bangladesh at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday. KKR would have breathed a sigh of relief after his non-inclusion. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
