Harshit Rana to join India squad in Mumbai for third Test vs New Zealand | Cricket News
Harshit Rana will not be available for Delhi’s next Ranji Trophy fixture as the all-rounder has been asked to join the India Test squad in Mumbai for the third Test against New Zealand from November 1. It is understood that the decision was conveyed to the Delhi management who will be without the all-rounder’s services for the Round 4 clash.
Senior selector Ajay Ratra was in attendance at the Arun Jaitley Stadium where Rana was featuring in the Delhi vs Assam clash. After taking a fifer in the first innings, he hit a crucial fifty and picked another two wickets when Assam came out to bat. The young all-rounder played a massive role in Delhi’s comprehensive ten-wicket win.
Rana was with the Indian squad for the first Two Tests as well but was released to play the Ranji Trophy fixture vs Assam.
He has been travelling with the Indian team for a very long time but didn’t get an opportunity to play. The men’s senior selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar have consistently thrown their weight behind the 22-year-old and also named him in the squad for the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia from next month.
He doesn’t have a lot of First Class experience but the selectors are convinced about his all-round abilities and feel he could be handful in Australian conditions.
It will not be a surprise if the Indian think tank hand him his debut in the third Test vs New Zealand to give him a taste of Test cricket before the challenging series vs Australia begins.
New Zealand have already clinched the series 2-0 following wins in Bengaluru and Pune. The third Test will be played at the Wankhede Stadium.
India squad vs New Zealand: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana.
