Indian cricket has always loved its specialists. Proper batters at the top, fast bowlers who hit the deck hard, and all-rounders carefully rationed like premium imports. But every World Cup cycle rewrites the rules. And quietly, without much noise, Harshit Rana has walked into a conversation India hasn’t fully had since Hardik Pandya’s early years: can your No. 8 win you matches, not just survive them?
After India’s four-wicket win over New Zealand in Vadodara in January 2026, the 24-year-old Delhi pacer confirmed what the team management has been hinting at: he’s being groomed as a bowling all-rounder for ODI cricket. Not a pinch-hitter. Not a tail-ender who swings blindly. A genuine No. 8 who can absorb pressure.
Vadodara 2026: 1st ODI vs New Zealand, January 2026
Chasing 301, India were cruising at 234/2 before a sudden slide to 242/5 threatened to undo the evening. This was not a situation built for experiments. Yet Harshit Rana walked in ahead of Washington Sundar, nursing a side sprain, a subtle but telling call.
What followed was not chaos, but calmness. He made 29 runs in 23 deliveries; no one could say this was an outburst of fireworks; however, his precision was what mattered. The first delivery he hit for four was a full-length delivery by debutant Kristian Clarke, who was smashed through the gap. The second four came when he pulled a short ball with ease to be caught over midwicket. Two fours, a six, and perhaps most importantly, a 37-run partnership with KL Rahul to give him some momentum to get back into the chase.
Adelaide 2025: 2nd ODI vs Australia, October 2025
As the number 9 batter in Adelaide, Rana has never really felt comfortable while batting. That being said, with his 24 runs from 18 deliveries,* he was able to help get India over the 260 run line, which then caused Australia to start sweating.
What made him stand out to me was how aggressively he went after the opposition and the sheer amount of runs he scored, although I do feel the way he attacked Adam Zampa, the World Cup-winning leg spinner, was what stood out the most.
He smashed three fours in a single over of solid and aggressive shots in his third ODI innings. In total, India won by two runs, and the Indian tail-end batting could now adopt a more aggressive approach overseas, rather than just surviving.
Melbourne T20I 2025: 2nd T20I vs Australia, October 2025
Format change, responsibility unchanged. Promoted to No. 7 in Melbourne, Rana justified the move with 35 off 33 balls, three fours, one six, and an understanding of tempo.
The shot selection was revealing. Cuts against spin. Whips off the hips against pace. A clean strike over long-on off Marcus Stoinis that showed balance, not brute force. His dismissal, a mistimed hit off Xavier Bartlett, came while trying to maintain momentum, not from recklessness.
Duleep Trophy 2023: North Zone vs North East Zone, Quarterfinal, Bengaluru
Batting at No 9, he smashed 122 off 86 balls, 12 fours, nine sixes, strike rate 141.86. This wasn’t tail-end slogging. This was controlled carnage. North Zone piled up 540/8 declared, and Rana later picked up two wickets in a 511-run win.
Duleep Trophy knocks don’t trend on social media. But selectors remember them especially when they hint at skill sets India traditionally lacks.
Ranji Trophy 2024–25: Delhi vs Assam, Group Match, October 2024
All-around players are identified as multi-faceted. Rana’s performance in his Ranji match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium showed this as he was able to contribute in two ways.
First, he bowled 5/80 for the bowling team to dismiss Assam for 330 runs. Then he scored a fluent 59 off 78 deliveries (four fours, three sixes) at No. 8 while batting. This propelled Delhi to 454 and an eventual win of 10 wickets for Delhi; however, the true importance lay beyond this win.
India’s 2027 World Cup won’t be decided solely by centuries at the top. It will hinge on who can add 30 runs when plans collapse. If nurtured patiently, Harshit Rana might just become that quiet difference, the man who turns 240/5 into 290, and good teams into champions.
Key Takeaway
India isn’t teaching Harshit Rana to bat; it’s teaching itself to think deeper.
FAQs
- What role is India planning for Harshit Rana in ODIs?
A bowling all-rounder capable of contributing meaningful runs at No. 8.
- Why is Harshit Rana’s batting important for the 2027 World Cup?
Because modern ODIs demand depth, collapses are inevitable; recovery options are not.
- How proven is Harshit Rana’s batting at senior levels?
He has delivered across ODIs, T20Is, and domestic tournaments, showing consistency rather than isolated flashes.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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