Harshit Rana "indebted to Gauti bhaiyya" after maiden ODI call-up

Harshit Rana, the right-arm fast bowler, has credited Gautam Gambhir for his recent success after earning his maiden ODI call-up for the three-match series in Sri Lanka. The 22-year-old worked with the new India head coach at Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League 2024. 

"I believed in working hard but whenever I used to get hurt after being overlooked in age-group teams, I would sit in my room and start sobbing. My father Pradeep never ever gave up hope,” Rana told PTI after being named in India ODI squad on July 18 (Thursday).

"If I have to name three people whom I am indebted to in this beautiful journey of mine, then it is my father for his efforts, my personal coach Amit Bhandari sir (former India and Delhi pacer) and above everyone else Gauti bhaiyya.

"If my outlook towards the game has changed, a lot of it has got to do with Gauti bhaiyya's presence in the KKR dressing room and how he changed my mindset. At the elite level, you require skills, but more than skills you require the heart to handle the pressure.

"Gauti bhaiyya would always tell me 'Mere ko tere pe trust hai. Tu match jeetake aayega'. (I trust you, you can win the match)."

Also read: Harshit Rana Interview - “Aggression comes naturally to me”

Rana had a brilliant IPL 2024, taking 19 wickets at an average of 20.15 and finishing as the joint-fourth-highest wicket-taker. The right-arm quick played a massive role in KKR lifting the IPL trophy after 10 years. The pacer showed a wide range of weapons in his arsenal, including having a mean bouncer up his sleeve. 

"If you ask about the pressure part, it is Gautam Gambhir's advice. He would say, 'what's the worst thing that will happen? You will get hit and we can lose the match. But if you don't face your fears, how will you overcome them?'

"(I learnt) there will always be a new day, a new match and things will fall in place. That's what you train for."

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