Harshit Rana’s journey with Team India has been anything but smooth. Ever since the young pacer earned his place in the national setup, he has faced far more criticism than applause. Being seen as a protégé of Gautam Gambhir only added to the scrutiny, with many claiming that this association fast-tracked his rise across all three formats.

Rana’s early performances did little to silence the noise, but over the past few months, the Delhi fast bowler has quietly started to prove why the selectors backed him. That growing belief was on full display during the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara on Sunday. At a time when India were losing control of the game, Rana delivered a spell that turned the match on its head.

Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to bowl, Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls put India under severe pressure. The New Zealand openers stitched together a fluent century stand, punishing anything loose and forcing India’s bowlers into defensive lines.

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Rana began with a tidy but wicketless first spell of four overs, conceding just 21 runs. With no breakthroughs, Gill had a decision to make, but the Indian captain showed faith in the youngster and brought him back into the attack in the 22nd over. That decision proved inspired.

Nicholls took Rana on immediately, smashing boundaries off the second and third deliveries. However, Rana held his nerve. On the fourth ball, he rolled his fingers over the ball to deliver a clever slower one, deceiving Nicholls into a mistimed shot that was comfortably taken by KL Rahul behind the stumps. Nicholls walked back after a well-made 62 off 69 balls, ending a 117-run opening partnership that had threatened to take the game away from India.

One brings two for Harshit Rana and #TeamIndia!

New Zealand lose both their openers.

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/OcIPHEpvjr#INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/gSzvDD40XU

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 11, 2026

That stand became New Zealand’s second-highest opening partnership in ODIs on Indian soil, behind only the 140 added by Andrew Jones and John Wright in Vadodara back in 1988. Nathan Astle and Craig Spearman’s 115 in Rajkot in 1999 now sit third on that list.

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Rana was not done yet. Just two overs later, he struck again, this time removing Conway with a sharp inswinger that sneaked through the bat and hit the stumps. Conway’s 56 off 67 balls had laid a solid platform, but Rana’s twin strikes suddenly put India firmly back in the contest. For a bowler under constant scrutiny, it was a spell that spoke louder than any criticism.