In a dramatic turnaround that mirrors the unpredictability of cricket itself, former India captain K Srikkanth has showered praise on Harshit Rana, a player he once fiercely criticised. Following India's thrilling but heartbreaking loss in the 3rd ODI against New Zealand in Indore, Srikkanth admitted that Rana’s explosive batting "scared" the Kiwis, marking a complete shift in his opinion of the young all-rounder.
To understand the weight of this praise, one must look at the history between the two. Not long ago, Srikkanth was Rana’s harshest critic. When Harshit Rana was selected for the ODI setup, Srikkanth publicly questioned his merit, infamously labelling him a "yes man" to head coach Gautam Gambhir. He had slammed the selection committee, asking, "Why is he even in the team?" and dismissed Rana’s on-field aggression as "filmy gimmicks" that belonged in cinema, not cricket.
However, the 3rd ODI changed the script. Chasing a mammoth target of 338, India was staring at a humiliating defeat after slumping to a precarious position. Enter Harshit Rana. Walking in at No. 8, he played a "fantabulous" knock, smashing a maiden ODI fifty (52 off 43 balls).
Harshit Rana didn't just swing the bat; he constructed a threatening 99-run partnership with Virat Kohli. With towering sixes and fearless stroke-play, he briefly ignited hope that India could pull off the craziest of heists. Although India eventually fell short by 41 runs, Rana’s performance forced New Zealand into a defensive panic.
Srikkanth, known for his blunt analysis, couldn't hide his admiration. He noted that for a brief moment, "New Zealand were scared," acknowledging the fear Rana struck into the opposition. The youngster has not only cemented his spot in the team but has done the impossible: he has silenced his biggest critic with his bat.
