Harshit Rana, the promising pacer from Delhi, is poised to play a pivotal role in the Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) pace attack in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), where he eagerly anticipates sharing the dressing room with Australian bowling sensation Mitchell Starc.
Despite recovering from an injury, Harshit enters the season with optimism, buoyed by his standout performance in 2023, which earned him a call-up to the Indian camp. Reflecting on his journey, Harshit opened up about the challenges of coping with his injury and the mental resilience required to overcome such setbacks.
“I had a tough time coping with the injury. Had to spend two and a half months away from the sport, and injuries like these take a mental toll on you. Despite that, I kept thinking positively and kept telling myself that the more I work on myself, the more I’ll benefit once I make my return at the IPL,” shared Harshit Rana in an interview with KKR Knight Club.
ALSO READ: Robin Uthappa Weighs In On MS Dhoni’s Future Amid Knee Concerns
Harshit attributes his growth as a cricketer to his experiences with the Indian team, emphasizing the positive changes he has observed within himself. Immersed in the Indian camp, he gained valuable insights into self-improvement, training methodologies, and the importance of continuous development, thanks to guidance from seasoned players and mentors like Rahul Dravid.
“After spending time in the Indian camp, I see a lot of positive changes within myself. You start to understand how one should work upon himself as a cricketer so that you make progress. I also learnt important lessons about training, diet, and much more. In fact, when I got injured in South Africa, Rahul Dravid sir came and spoke to me and asked me to work on some specific things and in the past two and half months, I’ve worked on those things. Most importantly, I’ve understood from the senior players the skill of continuously bettering yourself,” he elaborated.
Excited about the prospect of teaming up with Mitchell Starc, Harshit acknowledges the immense learning opportunity that comes with sharing the field and training sessions with a player of Starc’s calibre. Beyond bowling, Harshit is keen on enhancing his batting prowess, recognizing the importance of contributing with the bat to bolster his team’s performance.
“I’ve been working hard on my batting. After the runs I was able to score in the last domestic season, I looked to keep improving my batting. It will help me going forward and also I’ll be able to contribute more to the team I represent. I hope I’m able to replicate the work I’ve put in my batting and hope for the best from the upcoming season,” he expressed optimistically.
ALSO READ: Gautam Gambhir Returns To Kolkata Knight Riders As Mitchell Starc Joins the Fray
As KKR gears up for the IPL 2024 edition, their main pre-season camp in Kolkata is set to kick off on March 15. The team will commence their campaign against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the iconic Eden Gardens on March 23, marking the beginning of what promises to be an exhilarating season of cricket.
