The much-anticipated England-India series starts in a couple of days and it is the start of a new cycle for both teams. It is a 5-match series and the build up has been amazing from both the camps. But what has caught the attention of people on social media has been the late inclusion of Harshit Rana in the India squad. Harshit Rana is the 19th member of the team and there has been a huge uproar as to why he has been included ahead of Anshul Kamboj.
Both Harshit and Anshul are upcoming bowlers and bowlers for the future. Both have played first-class cricket but Anshul has played more of it. In current form, Anshul is bowling better, but Harshit has the backing of the team management especially of head coach Gautam Gambhir. The coach has convinced the team management of going with a player who has had average returns because he has seen something in him which others haven’t. Even the team management seems to agree with the head coach.
Harshit Rana’s Rapid Rise in International Cricket
Harshit Rana’s rapid rise in international cricket can be well attributed to Gautam Gambhir’s ascent to the coaching job. Harshit and Gautam first worked together in the 2024 IPL at the Kolkata Knight Riders and Gautam got to see and understand the talent of Rana. He has a good understanding and maybe because of the continuity Gautam prefers him. After a successful IPL, Harshit made his debut in all three formats.
Under Gambhir he made his debut in the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia and started well in Perth by picking up 3 wickets. But he was disappointing in the next game which was the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide where he went for plenty of runs and hardly got success. He was dropped from the subsequent matches. His Test record shows him playing 2 matches and taking 4 wickets at an average of 50.8.
Thereafter, ahead of Champions Trophy 2025, Harshit Rana made his ODI debut in the 3-match ODI series against England. He was picked in the squad in place of the injured Jasprit Bumrah. He was expensive with the new ball, but came back well with the old ball to pick up wickets. He played all 3 games against England and the first two Champions Trophy games before making way for Varun Chakravarthy in the subsequent Champions Trophy games. His ODI figures are decent with 10 wickets from 5 games at an average of 20.7 and economy of 5.69.
Surprisingly, Harshit has played only one T20I game as a concussion substitute in place of Shivam Dube and managed to pick three wickets in that game. His IPL record is decent with 40 wickets in 34 games at an economy of 9.51 and average of 25.7. It is through IPL that he made his debut for India in all three formats.
Anshul Kamboj’s Rapid Rise in Domestic Cricket
Anshul Kamboj is an upcoming bowler making rapid strides in domestic cricket and IPL as well. This year’s IPL was his first and he represented the Chennai Super Kings this season. He was under the able leadership of MS Dhoni this season. Many are questioning whether that is the reason why Kamboj is being ignored for Rana. Anshul has not yet made his debut in international cricket but he has made headlines in domestic cricket for sure.
In first class cricket, he has played 24 games and picked up 79 wickets at an economy of 3.10 and average of 22.9. In List A cricket, he has played 25 games and picked up 40 wickets at an economy of 4.14 and average of 20.2. In T20s he has played 30 games and picked up 34 wickets at an economy of 7.98 and average of 20.3. He played 11 games in the IPL and picked up 10 wickets at an economy of 9.07 and an average of 28.6. These are decent numbers and he did well in the recently concluded games against England Lions.
Harshit Rana vs Anshul Kamboj in facts and numbers.Â
Harshit Rana has been preferred over Anshul Kamboj mainly for a little bit of experience he brings to the table. Harshit is a known commodity as he has been in the circuit more than Kamboj. He has played international cricket for almost a year and so the team management believes in him. Plus, Harshit is a tall bowler and can hit the deck hard. He has got the pace to trouble the batters. Anshul is not that tall and is not a hit the deck bowler. But he is an effective one and one for the future.
Gautam Gambhir’s choice and opinions matter and Harshit is his guy. There seems to be some favouritism with Gautam in charge of the team. He has managed to convince the team management as well. So, Harshit gets the nod. Plus, Anshul played for CSK this season in the IPL and Gautam does not have a good relation with CSK and its players. Could that be the reason Anshul is left out of the scheme of things? These are questions that are being asked.
If we look at numbers of both and we will compare the first class numbers since Kamboj has not played International Cricket yet. We will see that Harshit Rana has played only 13 first class games and picked up 48 wickets at an economy of 4.04 and average of 27.8. In List A, he has played 19 games and picked up 32 wickets at an economy of 5.59 and average of 22.6.
In T20s, Harshit has played 39 games and picked up 46 wickets at an economy of 9.37 and average of 24.9. In IPL, he has played 34 games and picked up 40 wickets at an average of 9.51 and average of 25.7.
For Anshul Kamboj, he has played 24 first class games and picked up 79 wickets at an average of 22.9 and economy of 3.10. In List A games, he has played 25 games and picked up 40 wickets at an economy of 4.14 and average of 20.2. In T20s, he has played 30 games and picked up 34 wickets at an average of 7.98 and average of 20.3. In IPL, he has played 11 games and picked up 10 wickets at an economy of 9.07 and average of 28.6.
From these numbers, Kamboj has the edge over Harshit Rana except IPL where Rana has played more games. But in the other parameters, Harshit falls behind. Against England Lions, Rana picked up only wicket while he went the journey with the ball. With the bat, he struck two maximums which were handy off Rehan Ahmed. It is maybe due to his batting that Gautam is looking at Harshit as well.
Anshul Kamboj, on the other hand, picked up 5 wickets against England Lions at an average of 26.20. With the bat also, Kamboj scored 76 runs at an average of 38. Harshit picked up 1 wicket at an average of 90 with the ball and scored 16 runs at an average of 16. So, the current form favours Kamboj but the presence of Gautam Gambhir and Morne Morkel the bowling coach both former Knight Riders men seems to have done the job for Rana being selected in the team.
Will Harshit Rana be an automatic choice in playing XI for most of the Test matches?Â
With Harshit Rana in the squad as the 19th member, the question now arises as to whether he will play in most of the Test matches in this series. For all we know, Rana could get a look in at Leeds itself on the 20th of June. India have got a battery of pace bowlers and Harshit gets added to the list. With Gautam Gambhir obsessed with bowlers who can bat down the order, Harshit can get a look in as Gautam rates his batting very highly.
Players like Bumrah, Prasidh, Siraj, Arshdeep Singh are primarily bowlers. Rana should be in that category but Gautam might make him compete with Shardul Thakur and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Players who can do both the facets of the game well. It remains to be seen how things pan out as this is indeed a curious case of Harshit Rana.
So, the stage is set for the 5-match Test series to start. It all starts on Friday the 20th of June at Leeds, Headingley. It will be intriguing to see the playing XIS of both teams especially India. England looks settled in our view. Interesting times ahead as the Test series starts soon.
Also Read: ENG vs IND : Monty Panesar Predicts Shubman Gill’s Brigade To Win Test Series By 2-0