NEW DELHI:Indian pacer Harshit Rana went into the decisive third ODI in Sydney carrying immense baggage. He faced intense scrutiny regarding his selection, particularly the choice to include him over the more established left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh.

Shubman Gill backs Harshit Rana as India’s next bowling all-rounder.

Gambhir’s Harsh Motivation

The 23-year-old had endured a rocky start during the tour in the Perth and Adelaide games. His subsequent selection for the final ODI reignited the public debate, pushing him directly into the spotlight. The turning point, however, was a clear and unwavering ultimatum from Head Coach Gautam Gambhir.

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According to The Times of India, Rana’s childhood coach, Sharvan, revealed the extent of the pressure his student was under. Sharvan stated that Rana admitted the SCG match felt like a crucial test, and he was determined to quiet the external chatter.

“He in fact scolded Harshit badly. He told him directly, ‘perform kar, warna bahar bitha dunga. (perform or I will make you sit outside the team)

Sharvan defended Gambhir’s approach, noting the coach’s ability to identify and back talent, but also his strict demands.

Redemption at the SCG

Rana’s opportunity arrived at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground, and he seized it completely. Delivering pace and effective bounce off the surface, he finished with exceptional figures of 4 wickets for 39 runs across 8.4 overs, bowling at an economy of 4.50.

His spell was pivotal in dismantling the Australian batting line-up and restricting the hosts to 236 runs. After claiming his fourth wicket, Rana’s calm, silent walk back to the dressing room effectively conveyed a single message: his performance was the only reply necessary.