Indian cricket witnessed a fiery spell in Ranchi as young pacer Harshit Rana delivered a dream over to launch India’s second innings against South Africa, instantly putting the visitors on the back foot while chasing a daunting total. The atmosphere at the JSCA Stadium was already electric after Virat Kohli’s masterful century and Rohit Sharma’s record-breaking sixes, and Rana’s breakthrough only intensified India’s dominance.
Rana struck in just the second over of the innings, removing both Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock for ducks. His first blow came through a beautifully executed nip-backer pitched on a perfect length. Rickelton, misjudging the line, attempted a tentative defensive shot, only to see the ball sneak through the gap and crash into the middle stump.
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Harshit Rana roared in celebration, sprinting towards his teammates as the home crowd erupted. What followed was even more dramatic. On the very next delivery, de Kock—known for his aggressive starts—looked to counterpunch.
Harshit Rana on fire 💥💥 pic.twitter.com/GSjJI954pk
— Aditya (@Hurricanrana_27) November 30, 2025
Harshit Rana, anticipating the move, delivered a fuller ball outside off that subtly shaped away. De Kock’s attempted drive resulted in a thick outside edge, safely pouched by KL Rahul behind the stumps. Two balls, two wickets, no runs. South Africa were rattled, and India sensed complete control of the game.
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Rana’s double strike injected energy into the entire Indian unit, echoing the same intensity that had characterised Kohli’s emotional century celebration earlier in the day—an innings that even saw a fan break through security to touch the star’s feet. Building on that momentum, Rana’s precision and confidence set the tone for a commanding Indian bowling performance.
With South Africa pushed into survival mode, Rana’s sensational over may well go down as one of the defining moments of the series opener in Ranchi.
