IND v SA 2025: ‘Develop him as someone who can contribute with bat at no.8’- Gambhir on backing Harshit Rana in white-ball cricket

Harshit Rana took four wickets in three ODIs against South Africa recently.

Indian team head coach Gautam Gambhir has explained why the team management has been backing young Harshit Rana in the white-ball formats. Constant encouragement from management has sparked controversy among cricket analysts, but despite the outside noise, the 23-year-old continues to work on his game.

Efforts are being made to develop Rana into a reliable resource down the order, and head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed confidence in the kid.

Addressing the media following India's 9-wicket victory over South Africa in Vizag, the Indian head coach stated that the team management had identified Rana as a project to stretch their batting lineup.

“That’s one of the reasons why we are trying to probably develop someone like Harshit, who can actually bat at 8 and contribute with a bat at No. 8. That’s how we need to find the balance, because come South Africa in two years, we would be needing three proper seamers as well. If he can continue to develop as a bowling all-rounder, it’s going to give us a massive boost,” Gambhir said at the press conference after the Vizag ODI, quoted as saying by CricketNext News 18.

Rana, Arshdeep, and Prasidh formed the pace attack for the South African ODIs. They are still relatively new to ODI cricket, and their performances are typically inconsistent. However, resting Bumrah has allowed Gautam Gambhir to offer them more opportunities, thereby forming a new fast-bowling group.

“Because obviously with Jasprit Bumrah coming back, and what we saw of Arshdeep, Prasidh, and Harshit in this series, it was incredible. All these three guys do not have a lot of experience under their belts, especially in the 50-over format… They’ve hardly played less than 15 ODIs, all these three bowlers, but they’ve done a fabulous job," he added.

In the first ODI, South Africa came close to chasing down 350+, succeeded in the second, and was prevented from surpassing 280 in the third due to Prasidh's influence, which created a target that Jaiswal, Sharma, and Kohli easily surpassed.

However, Gambhir is eager to turn Rana into a useful fast-bowling all-rounder—possibly a Hardik-like choice with fewer injury worries.

“So, I feel that if we can develop someone like Harshit at No. 8, who can contribute with the bat, I think it is going to give us the right balance as well… Let’s see. I think it’s still a long way," he added.