Harshit Rana has dealt with more criticism and abuse than most cricketers. The fast bowler made his India debut in November 2024. Owing to his potential, Harshit has been handed debut caps in all formats. Still raw, the 24-year-old hasn’t exactly taken the world by storm.
In glimpses, Harshit has shown what he can do. In ODI cricket, he has excellent numbers with both bat and ball. It’s clear that the management views Harshit as one for the long haul. But critics are ruthless. Forget faceless trolls online; one former chief selector had labelled him a ‘yes-man’ to head coach Gautam Gambhir. Basically, he was hinting that Harshit’s selection is based on bias instead of merit.
How Harshit Rana ‘cuts out the noise’
Harshit’s captain at the Kolkata Knight Riders, Ajinkya Rahane, has revealed that the pacer doesn’t get bothered by the naysayers. Rahane felt that the 24-year-old was under pressure, but it was the opposite. Harshit told Rahane that the critics fuel him to perform.
“See, we actually spoke about social media when he was playing in the IPL last year. In certain matches, he didn’t do well, and I saw, basically, a little nervous, a little sad. It was bothering him. He told me, ‘When I see all the comments, when I see what they are writing about me, they don’t know how hard I have worked in my bowling. So that actually motivates me to do well for the team.’ I said, ‘Are you okay with all that?’ He said, ‘I am okay to read all the comments,’” Rahane said on Cricbuzz.
The KKR captain revealed how Harshit copes with the criticism. The pacer likes to enter the ‘zone’. He places his entire focus on cricket. Even during practice, Harshit likes to cut out the noise. His KKR teammates were unsure about what the pacer was doing in practice, but understood that’s how he prepares.
“I have seen him using AirPods during practice sessions when he was bowling, just to cut out the noise. That is his method to cut out his noise. We all thought what he was doing. Why is he wearing those AirPods? Later, we got to know that he just wanted to cut the noise. When he is bowling, he just wants to get in the zone, bowl with the same intensity and mindset,” he added.
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