According to reports, pacer Harshit Rana has been called up to the Indian team ahead of the Mumbai Test against New Zealand.
It had been reported by the Indian Express on Tuesday (October 29) that Rana had been called up to India's squad for the Mumbai Test match, and could even make his international debut in the match, days after his inclusion in India's squad for the tour to Australia later this month.
The news sparked annoyance from a section of Indian fans, who believed that India head coach Gautam Gambhir had intentionally delayed Rana's debut in order to enable Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to retain him as an uncapped player for the upcoming IPL season. Before taking over as India coach, Gambhir had led KKR to the title this year.
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As per the IPL's new retention rules, any uncapped player can be retained by a franchise for an auction purse deduction of Rs 4 crore. Players are considered uncapped if they have not played for India before the retention deadline of October 31, 2024.
Were Rana to debut for India in the third Test, it would come just one day after the deadline. He had also been part of India's squad for the home T20I series against Bangladesh, but did not play a match, missing the last one due to a viral infection.
The Delhi pacer was with the Indian squad as a travelling reserve at the start of the series in Bengaluru and Pune before he was released to play in the Ranji Trophy game against Assam. He scored a fifty and claimed a five-wicket haul in Delhi’s 10-wicket win over Assam.
Gautam Gambhir: I don't know where this has come from
On Thursday, India head coach Gautam Gambhir also confirmed that no one had been added to the squad for the Mumbai Test.
Abhishek Nayar: No additions made to India's squad for Mumbai Test
However, those reports have since been refuted by India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, who told reporters on Wednesday that no additions had been made to India's squad for the third Test.
A report on Wednesday from the Times of India states that while Rana has been called up to bowl to India's squad members in the nets, he has not yet been included in the main squad for the third Test.
Sarandeep Singh: Better for Harshit and India if he plays a Test before Australia
"The team management wanted me to play domestic cricket before going to Australia. I am happy that I performed well with both bat and ball in this match," said Rana after his heroics against Assam.
Delhi coach and former national selector Sarandeep Singh is excited to see the pacer in Indian colours. “If India want him to play, I would love to see. If he ends up playing a Test before going to Australia, then it is better for Harshit and for India too that they get a good fast bowler,” Sarandeep told the Indian Express.
“I told Rana that he is on the verge of an opportunity for India and that he should take a fifer here. He got pumped up and delivered here. This is just how a coach talks. He is ready to play right now,” the Delhi coach added.
Rana boasts an impressive first-class record, taking 43 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 24 and a strike rate of 36.0 with best match figures of 10-108. He is also a very capable batter and has scored 469 runs in 14 innings at an average of 42.63 with a best of 122*.
The third Test match is set to begin on Friday (November 1) in Wankhede, Mumbai. Although it is a dead rubber with New Zealand taking an unassailable 2-0 lead, there is still a lot at stake for India as they look to maintain their top-2 spot on the World Test Championship 2023-25 table, and also avoid a whitewash on home soil.
