New Delhi: Team India pacer Harshit Rana enjoyed some fun banter with Australian pacer Mitchell Starc on Day 2 of the ongoing 1st Test between the two teams in Perth in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Rana played down the banter with Starc stating that he shares a great bond with the Aussie pacer having shared the dressing room with him for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Rana enjoyed a fine Test debut for India as he picked up a three-wicket haul in Australia’s first innings in Perth and troubled the hosts with his bouncers. Harshit bowled a barrage of short balls to Starc in the morning session on Day 3 in a bid to end the pacer’s resistance with the bat for Australia. Starc came up with a warning for Rana during their face-off.
“I bowl faster than you. I have a long memory,” Starc was heard telling Rana on the stump mic. Rana didn’t respond on the field but had a smile on his face. When asked about Starc’s sledge, Rana said the Aussie pacer is a good friend and that it wasn’t a big deal for him.
“He’s a very good friend. We play in the IPL together. These things happen on the field. It wasn’t a big deal, just a few words were exchanged,” Rana said at the press conference following the conclusion of Day 2 of the Perth Test.
Mitch Starc offers a little warning to Harshit Rana 😆#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/KoFFsdNbV2
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 23, 2024
Rana and Starc shared the dressing room at KKR during IPL 2024 earlier this year. The pace duo played a key role in KKR’s memorable title triumph with 36 wickets between them. While Rana picked up 19 wickets in 13 matches in IPL 2024, Starc finished the season with 17 wickets from 14 games. Their heroics helped KKR beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final to win their third IPL trophy.
Harshit Rana credits Jasprit Bumrah for his impressive debut
Rana credited Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah for his impressive show in his debut Test against Australia in Perth. Rana finished with figures of 3/48 in the hosts’ first innings and picked up the important wicket of Travis Head before removing Starc and Nathan Lyon. The 22-year-old said Bumrah’s fabulous opening spell made things easier for him.
“His (Bumrah) spell made things easier for me. I became calmer. Jassi bhaiya always creates pressure from one end, and that makes it easier for the bowler at the other end,” said Rana.
Bumrah wreaked havoc on the Australian batting line-up with a five-wicket to bundle out the hosts for a paltry 104 runs, in response to India’s first-innings total of 150. He was well supported by Rana and Siraj, who picked up the other five wickets between them. India amassed a strong lead of 218 runs at stumps on Day 2 thanks to a brilliant unbeaten opening stand of 172 runs between Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul.
Team India pacer Harshit Rana reponded to Australian pacer Mitchell Starc’s ‘I bowl faster than you’ remark after the conclusion of Day 2 of the 1st Test between India and Australia in Perth. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
