Among the emerging young Indian bowlers, Kolkata Knight Riders’ Harshit Rana had a standout season in the recently concluded edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). His impressive performance on the field, coupled with his fiery aggression, has been a topic of much discussion. The young pacer has shared his thoughts on his approach and attitude when playing cricket.
One memorable incident occurred during a match between KKR and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 23. Harshit Rana celebrated taking the wicket of Mayank Agarwal with a viral ‘flying kiss celebration’. In another match against the Delhi Capitals, he performed a ‘shushing’ celebration by pointing his finger at his lips after taking a wicket. These aggressive celebrations caught the attention of fans and quickly spread on social media.
However, these celebrations also led to consequences. Harshit received a one-match ban and forfeited his entire match fee for his actions, as it was his second offense. Despite the penalty, Rana had a breakthrough season, playing a pivotal role in KKR’s journey to their third IPL title. He ended the season with 19 wickets, making him the fifth-highest wicket-taker.
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Harshit attributes his aggressive demeanour to his passion for the game. He emphasized that his emotional outbursts are a natural part of his competitive spirit. However, he acknowledged that he might need to tone down his on-field celebrations. He clarified that his primary focus is on winning matches, not making friends.
Reflecting on an incident where he was hit for 16 runs in an over by Abhishek Porel, he explained that his aggressive celebration after taking Porel’s wicket was a form of redemption. In an interview with the Indian Express, Harshit Rana addressed whether he would reduce his aggression on the field.
Harshit Rana said, “Delhi boys play cricket with our heart. The Delhi aggression made Virat Kohli the Virat he is, Ishant Sharma played 100 Tests, Rishabh Pant miracle at Gabba, Gambhir won 2 WC Finals for India”. (Indian Express). pic.twitter.com/HkySpe1txK
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 29, 2024
“Not a chance,” he asserted. “Next time I will make sure that I will not use it as a send-off. This is my cricket. I have always played my cricket like this. Off the field, I am a fun-loving guy, but on the cricket pitch, I am there to win, not to make friends. When Abhishek Porel hit me for 16 runs in my first over, it hurt my ego. I can’t smile in such situations. In the next over, I took his wicket, and my celebration was my redemption, but I got banned.”
When asked about the stereotype that cricketers from Delhi tend to be aggressive, much like senior players such as Virat Kohli and Ishant Sharma, Harshit expressed pride in this trait. He believes that this emotional intensity is what sets Delhi cricketers apart and contributes to their success.
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“This tag has been given to us. We are from Delhi, we play cricket with our heart. This Delhi aggression has made Virat Kohli the player he is. Ishant Sharma has played 100 Test matches, Rishabh Pant performed a miracle at Gabba, and Gautam Gambhir won two World Cup finals for India,” Harshit Rana stated.
With an impressive IPL season under his belt and consistent performances in domestic cricket, a national call-up seems imminent for Harshit Rana. As veteran pacer Mohammed Shami approaches the latter stages of his career, the search for India’s next big fast bowler is underway. Harshit Rana could very well be a strong contender to join the Indian squad in the near future.
