From Doubt to Devotion: Srikkanth hails Harshit Rana after fearless Indore blitz
Indore delivered drama. Then Harshit Rana delivered belief. And now Kris Srikkanth delivered praise.
India chased a stiff 338 in the third ODI against New Zealand. Early wickets rocked the hosts. The scoreboard slipped fast — 1 for 28, 2 for 45, 3 for 68, and 4 for 71. Pressure mounted. Noise grew. However, the fight never stopped.
Virat Kohli held one end. Meanwhile, Harshit Rana walked in at 178 for 6. At that point, the match looked gone. Yet Rana changed the tempo instantly. He attacked. He trusted his swing. Most importantly, he forced New Zealand onto the back foot.
Rana smashed four sixes and four boundaries in a blazing 43-ball 52. As a result, he stitched a crucial 99-run stand with Kohli. He drove straight. He pulled with authority. He cleared the ropes at will. Every shot carried intent. Every hit carried hope.
Srikkanth watched closely. And this time, he applauded loudly.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former India opener called Rana the real game-changer. He said New Zealand players looked shaken during Rana’s assault. He highlighted how Rana’s hitting brought India back despite the asking rate crossing 11 per over. According to Srikkanth, Rana’s fearless approach unsettled the field and rattled the captain.
More importantly, Srikkanth underlined the numbers. Out of the 99-run partnership, Rana scored 52. That contribution kept India alive. That burst gave Kohli space. That momentum shifted belief in the dugout.
However, the dream faded in the 44th over. Rana fell at 277 for 7. From there, Kohli fought alone. He compiled a brilliant 124. Yet India lost steam. The innings folded at 296 in 46 overs.
Consequently, New Zealand sealed a historic result. They clinched their first-ever ODI series win in India. The defeat stunned fans. It also sparked fresh debate.
Yet the biggest twist came off the field.
Srikkanth once questioned Rana’s place in India’s white-ball squads. He even joked earlier that Rana became the first name under coach Gautam Gambhir. That remark spread widely. Trolls targeted the young cricketer. Social media mocked him as Gambhir’s favourite.
Soon after, Gambhir fired back. During a press conference last year, he slammed critics for attacking a 23-year-old player for online views. He urged former cricketers to show responsibility and protect young talent.
Now, the narrative has flipped.
Srikkanth no longer jokes. Instead, he salutes. He acknowledges Rana’s growth. He celebrates Rana’s composure. Above all, he admits Rana’s power frightened New Zealand in Indore.
Cricket often writes redemption arcs. On Sunday, Harshit Rana forced one with the bat. And Srikkanth signed it with his words.
