Harshit Rana Reveals Jasprit Bumrah’s Advice For Champions Trophy 2025 Preparation

Harshit Rana had a wonderful time last year across formats and leagues. The right-arm pacer won the Indian Premier League (IPL) title for the 2024 season with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), thanks to his 19 wickets in 11 innings at an average of 20.15, a strike rate of 13.31, and an economy rate of 9.08.

Fast-forward to November, during the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Due to Rohit Sharma's absence, Rana made his debut in the Test format under the leadership of Jasprit Bumrah and took four wickets in the encounter.

Harshit Rana’s dream run for India across formats

Harshit Rana’s T20I debut did not come in normal circumstances. The right-arm pacer came as the concussion substitute of Shivam Dube during the fourth T20I of the recent series against England at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.

The Delhi pacer came into the second innings and picked up three wickets for 33 runs in his four overs. Harry Brook got the edge into the hands of the wicket-keeper, Sanju Samson, while Jamie Overton and Jacob Bethell returned to the pavilion on Harshit’s bowling.

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Jasprit Bumrah was in India’s provisional squad for the eight-team tournament, but the BCCI selectors kept Rana as his potential replacement as the pacer was under the injury clouds. He came into the side ahead of the experience of Mohammad Siraj.

The KKR pacer played all eight games for India in the three-match ODI series against England at home and came up with colorful performances. He picked up seven wickets in four innings at an average of below 20 and a strike rate of 19.1, thanks to the best bowling figure of 3/31 in an innings.

Harshit Rana reveals Jasprit Bumrah’s advice for Champions Trophy

It was a surprising decision for the fans and pundits of the Indian side to see Harshit Rana playing over Arshdeep Singh, who has the skill of moving the new ball both ways in the powerplay overs.

After Mohammad Shami drew the first blood for the blue brigade in the first six deliveries, Rana came into the bowling attack. He earned the success on the fourth ball as Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto drilled the shot ball straight into the hands of the cover-point, Virat Kohli.

In the third ball of the 46th over, Rishad Hossain failed to read the slower ball and looked to whack the length delivery out of the park. But He didn’t move much and guided the ball straight into the hands of the third-man fielder, Hardik Pandya, who didn’t need to move at all.

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“Working with Jassi bhai (Bumrah) benefits a lot because he has a lot of experience. He tells me how to bowl in which format. I picked consistency from him.” Harshit Rana, who finished with figures of 3/31 in 7.4 overs, expressed at the end of India’s victory.

India chooses between Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh for the Pakistan encounter.

Harshit Rana’s impressive performance should be enough for him to retain his place in the side for the second fixture against Pakistan. But the green brigade has found the left-arm angle hard to face, and that could bring Arshdeep back into the side.

Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja will surely retain their position, as there is no scope of changing the batting department for India in the mouth-watering clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. A victory in that game will qualify the Blue Brigade for the semifinal of the tournament.