New Delhi: Team India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar debunked the reports on Wednesday that pacer Harshit Rana has been added to India’s squad for the third and final Test match against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Nayar said there have been no additions to the team for the 3rd Test as India aim to bounce back and avoid a 3-0 clean sweep in the three-match series.
Rana was part of India’s travelling reserves during the 1st Test in Bengaluru before getting released to play for Delhi in the ongoing Ranji Trophy. The pacer featured in Delhi’s clash against Assam at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi where he picked up a five-wicket haul with the ball before smashing a half-century.
Rana joined the Indian team’s camp in Mumbai ahead of the 3rd Test against New Zealand, sparking speculations that he might be included in the main squad. However, Nayyar confirmed the pacer will not get a chance in the playing XI and will have to wait to make his India debut. Nayar also stressed that every game is crucial for India as they aim to reach the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25.
“No additions to the squad. Every week is critical, every day is critical. We have not been narrow-minded in thinking about WTC final. We want to focus on this match,” Nayar said in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
Harshit Rana’s rise to fame
Rana rose to fame after shining for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their title-winning campaign in IPL 2024 where the 22-year-old pacer picked up 19 wickets in 13 matches for the franchise. The Delhi pacer was immediately fast-tracked into the Indian team and earned his maiden call-up for the ODI series against Sri Lanka.
However, Rana was kept warming the bench and didn’t get to feature in the playing XI in any of the matches. The pacer was also part of India’s T20I series against Bangladesh at home but didn’t get a chance to play. He has also been named in India’s squad for the Australia Test series later this year and is expected to make his debut Down Under.
Rana is one of the five pacers who have been selected in India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He will partner the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep in India’s pace attack in the Test series against the Aussies.
Team India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar on Wednesday clarified that there have been no additions to India’s squad for the 3rd Test against New Zealand in Mumbai. Pacer Harshit Rana will have to wait to make his India debut. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
