Gill also said that Rana is confidence of scoring 20-25 runs with the bat at no.8 for India.
While Rohit Sharma with his 121* and Virat Kohli’s 74* and their unbeaten 168-run partnership took all the focus of India winning the third ODI in Sydney against Australia, pacer Harshit Rana also shone with the ball.
After Australia won the toss and chose to bat first, Harshit Rana hurt the hosts badly, taking 4/39 as they were bowled out for 239 runs. Matt Renshaw made a half-century, while Mitchell Marsh made 41 runs.
Then Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli made short work of the chase, as India won by 9 wickets, avoiding a whitewash, though Australia won the series 2-1.
Harshit Rana, despite criticism, did not give up. He stood tall and took four wickets in the third One-Day International, helping his team win the game.
Shubman Gill, India’s captain, did not mince words after the match as he praised the young pace bowler. The Indian captain hinted that Rana was a perfect fit for India's plans in the 2027 World Cup squad, emphasizing both his pace and bounce were useful, as well as his emerging batting talent.
India is assembling a roster with the 2027 World Cup and South African conditions in mind. Gill highlighted the team's template.
“Yes, absolutely, Sir. The number eight position for us, if a batsman can make 20-25 runs, and we have confidence he can do it, then it becomes a very important position. There are very few fast bowlers who are tall and who can bowl 140-plus. So, on such wickets, or if we are looking at South Africa, such bowlers become very important for you,” Gill said when asked if the team views Rana as a bowler who can regularly contribute with the bat.
While speaking on Rana, Gill also stressed his tactical efficiency as a bowler.
“In the middle overs, we saw that the ball doesn’t move much off the wicket, so if you have good height and pace, you can create chances,” Gill said.
Rana checks the majority of the conditions, and Gill's public endorsement elevates him from 'interesting option' to 'likely member of XI' in the 2027 WC.