Harshit Rana has proved his detractors wrong with a fine bowling performance on Saturday. Often at the ire of fans, Rana responded with career best figures in the IND vs AUS 3rd ODI in Sydney. The 23-year-old picked up 4/39 to help restrict Australia to 236, after the hosts won the toss and opted to bat first.
Harshit Rana delivers on promise in Sydney
Gautam Gambhir has been staunch in his backing of Harshit Rana. The Delhi pacer came up with the goods on Saturday. Persisted with ahead of Arshdeep Singh, Rana registered career best figures in a fine spell of fast bowling.
Captain Shubman Gill opted to use Rana with the new ball, and the 23-year-old struggled a little to find his line and length early. He bowled with good pace but travelled as Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head got off to a good start.
Rana however returned for his second spell with venom. The Kolkata Knight Riders star dismissed Alex Carey with a well disguised slower delivery. The Australia keeper skied it with Shreyas Iyer taking a sharp diving catch. Rana rose in confidence and got Mitchell Owen with a rising delivery, to induce an edge to Rohit Sharma at slip.
Rana later finished the innings off with yet another slower delivery to dismiss Cooper Connolly. He then castled Josh Hazlewood to close out the Australia innings. Rana now has 16 wickets in 8 ODIs, the third most for an India bowler.
His continued selection in the Indian team has baffled fans, but Rana has come out with flying colours in the IND vs AUS series. Harshit had held his bat well and contributed with wickets.
