Former wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel said that Harshit Rana is more effective with the old ball than bowling with the new ball. On Wednesday, February 12, India hammered England by 142 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to win the three-match series 3-0. Rana was amongst the standout bowlers for India after he finished with impressive figures of 5-1-31-2.
But it was only in his second spell that he made a comeback. In his first spell, Rana leaked 22 runs off two overs. But in his second, he gave away only nine runs from three overs and picked up the crucial wickets of Harry Brook and Jos Buttler. Parthiv said that since Rana is a hit-the-deck bowler, he gets more success while operating with the old ball.
India vs England, 3rd ODI: Highlights
“We have seen that when he starts with the new ball, he tends to go for runs. He is a different kind of bowler when it comes to the new ball—he’s not a swing bowler but a hit-the-deck bowler. That’s exactly why he takes wickets with the older ball,” Parthiv told the broadcasters after the match.
‘Replacing Bumrah won’t be easy’
In the first ODI in Nagpur where he made his debut, Rana was taken for 26 runs in one of his overs by Phil Salt. But Rana came back strongly to pick up three wickets. Parthiv said that if Rana goes for runs early in his spell, it’s Hardik Pandya, who generally chips in with handy overs.
“This is how India has been using him: if he bowls a couple of good overs, he continues; if not, Hardik Pandya steps in. That’s the kind of bowler Rana is, and that’s what we’re talking about. His first spell had no wickets with an economy of 10.4, but his ability to make a comeback and bowl effectively with the older ball is evident—six wickets at an economy of 5.2,” Parthiv said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Bumrah couldn’t make the cut for the Champions Trophy to be held from February 19 due to a back injury. In his place, it’s Rana who was roped in as his replacement.
“He should be a happy man, and India is clearly looking for a replacement for Bumrah. That won’t be easy, but at some point in this series, he has stepped up,” Parthiv added.
In three matches in the ODI series, Rana was the most successful pacer, having taken six wickets at an economy rate of 6.95. Rana came up the ranks after performing well for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
