Harshit Rana shuts critics up with his bat, gives India a lifeline at MCG with Abhishek Sharma

Harshit was India's second-highest scorer of the day after Abhishek Sharma and formed a 56-run partnership with the opener to dig India out of trouble.

The praise should be louder than your complaints! Harshit Rana was bashed left, right, and center. Accused of being a ‘yes man’ to India head coach Gautam Gambhir. Memes were made, mocking him. And within a week, he’s silenced everyone.

Harshit ended the India vs Australia ODI series as the highest wicket-taker and played a valuable cameo. All those who bashed him stopped chirping then. And now, the naysayers have gotten back into their burrows.

Harshit Rana shows all-round promise

That’s because in the India vs Australia 2nd T20I, Harshit outscored Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, and Shivam Dube. The fast bowler, who wasn’t believed to be an all-rounder, scored 35 from 33 balls at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

All of the batters mentioned above scored 19 runs from 34 balls. And he did all of this after coming out to bat in the 8th over. The score was 49/5, and from there, he saved the match along with Abhishek Sharma. The number one-ranked T20I batter needed some help, and Harshit gave him that.

Together, they scored 56 runs in 7.5 overs. Of course, Abhishek gets the plaudits since he scored 68 runs, more than half of India’s total of 125. But Harshit’s 33-run knock was equally exceptional. Had he not been there, India may have been crossed even 100.

India’s frontline batter, Dube, who was saved for later, didn’t do much. Many had questioned the decision to send Harshit over him, but Gambhir and Suryakumar’s tactic turned out to be correct, and perhaps India can try to defend the total.