In a series of candid and heartwarming interview with Mens XP, rising pace sensation Harshit Rana has pulled back the curtain on the private personalities of India’s biggest cricket icons. Following his breakout international debut, the KKR star shared a hilarious and unexpected encounter involving Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma that completely shattered his preconceived notions of the legendary batter. From being corrected on family etiquette to surviving the pressure of a debut with a retiring legend, Rana’s revelations offer a rare, humanizing look at the ‘King’ of Indian cricket.

Harshit Rana reveals hilarious first encounter with Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma

Rana recalled the nervous moment he first met Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, instinctively addressing her as ‘Ma’am” out of respect. However, Kohli, known for his fierce persona on the field, immediately stepped in to break the ice with his signature humor. Kohli playfully scolded the young pacer, telling him to drop the formal titles and call her “Bhabhi” (sister-in-law) instead. To further the joke, Kohli teased Rana in front of Anushka, reminding her that Rana was the same person “throwing champagne” on him during celebrations just moments earlier.

“I was meeting Anushka for the first time. I called her Ma’am. Virat told me not to call her like that and call her bhabhi. Kohli told her that I was throwing champagne on him outside, and now he is calling you Ma’am. He is very funny!” Rana said.

Misconceptions about Kohli and Hardik Pandya

Before entering the Indian dressing room, Rana admitted he held a common misconception that superstars like Kohli and Hardik Pandya were constantly aggressive and intimidating. Having only watched their fiery antics on television, he expected a high-pressure environment. Instead, Rana was shocked to find that both players are ‘totally different’ in reality, describing them as incredibly funny, approachable, and the life of the team. This shift in perception helped the youngster settle into a squad filled with his childhood idols.

“I had a perception regarding Virat and Hardik that they would be aggressive because I had seen them on TV only. I thought they scared everyone. But when I met them in real life, they were very funny and are totally different… they are not like what people see on screen.” Rana concluded.