Harshit Rana, the young Delhi pacer, recalled a hilarious incident from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, including Virat Kohli and KL Rahul in the Perth Test.

Rana sparked a response from Mitchell Starc following his flurry of bounce-laden deliveries that shook the Australia star. Starc, a former Kolkata Knight Riders IPL colleague of Rana, grinned and gave a quiet warning: “Harshit, I bowl faster than you. I’ve got a long memory.”

The Australian kept reminding him of his speed throughout two straight overs, eliciting obvious smiles but no resistance. Later, Rana calmed India's new-ball attack by dismissing Starc for 26.

The fire, which was infused with familiarity between two IPL teammates, swiftly made the occasion famous—not because of any animosity.

However, Harshit Rana has finally spoken up about how that heated debate actually felt and how KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, who were stationed at Slip, did more than simply watch the drama play out—they added gasoline to the flames.

“I bowled a bouncer at him after a long time. One of them hit his helmet. When he sledged, I just laughed it off. But while I was walking back for my run-up, I was like 'mar gaya. Ab ye maarega mujhe bouncer' (I'm dead, now he will bowl bouncers at me). And then, from behind, Virat bhai and KL bhai kept shouting 'maarta reh, maarta reh, idhar hi maar isko' (keep hitting him at the same spot!). I was like ‘Bhaiya aap toh khel loge, mere lagegi sar pe!’ (You both will play him easily, I'll get hit on the helmet!),” Harshit said as he recalled the moment on the BeerBiceps podcast.

“He actually hit me on the helmet in the second Test,” he further stated.

India had won the first Test of the series by 295 runs but failed to capitalise on the momentum, facing three defeats in the next four matches to concede a defeat.