More than a bowler: Harshit Rana's growing all-round value

Harshit Rana comes across as a fighter - and more often than not, he has delivered in the limited opportunities he has received in his burgeoning international career, which began in November 2024. He has contributed not only with the ball, his primary KRA, but also with the bat.

The Indian team management, under Gautam Gambhir, clearly views him as a bowling all-rounder, and he has hardly disappointed. A crucial 24 off 18 in an ODI in Adelaide last year and a 35 off 33 in a T20I at the MCG came at vital junctures, even though those efforts did not ultimately help India win the games.

But in Vadodara on Sunday, he turned the match on its head with a vital 29 off 23 to help India take the lead in the three-match series. So influential was the cameo that KL Rahul acknowledged Rana's contribution as the turning point in India's successful chase of 301.

"Harshit did a terrific job as soon as he walked in. He took a lot of pressure off me with the way he struck the ball, and suddenly the chase became much easier," Rahul said of Rana, who also claimed two important wickets in the New Zealand innings.

Rana himself is ready for the challenge and is steadily working towards that goal. "My team wants me to bat at No. 8 as an all-rounder, and whatever time I can give to it in the nets, I focus on that. I believe I can score 30-40 runs for the team lower down the order whenever needed, and that's what the team management believes I can do as well," Rana said after India's four-wicket win.

He went on: "The team management wants to groom me as an all-rounder, and it is my task to keep working on it. I am doing that in the nets as well." He also thanked KL Rahul for the support. "It was a matter of confidence, which KL (Rahul) bhai helped me with when I went in to bat. I stayed focused and got the runs."

Rahul and Rana added 37 off 31 deliveries, with Rana contributing only eight in that crucial sixth-wicket partnership.

Rana, 24, has featured in all three formats for India - two Tests, 12 ODIs and six T20Is.