Indian cricket fans have a strange habit: we create narratives first and look at performances later. Harshit Rana has been one of the biggest victims of this culture. You tried dragging him down by sarcastically calling him an “all-format bowler.” You dismissed him as a product of favouritism. And every time selectors backed him, you questioned their intelligence rather than his potential.
Harshit Rana's Incredible Numbers
But here’s the truth - Harshit hasn’t just survived the noise. He has grown stronger because of it. Look closely at the numbers you conveniently ignore. In just 9 ODIs, he already has 19 wickets, and he’s doing it at a superb economy rate of 5.9. These aren’t the stats of someone pushed into the system. These are the numbers of someone who belongs.
There’s something refreshing about a player who refuses to let criticism define him. Whether you like him or not is your personal choice. But when someone absorbs this much trolling, stays locked in, and still lets his performances speak louder than every insult thrown at him - that demands respect. Because Indian cricket isn’t built only on superstars who shine instantly. It’s also built on players who grind through the ridicule, the doubt, the endless noise.
If Harshit Rana is playing all three formats today, it’s not because someone “favoured” him. It’s because the management spotted something real - pace, height, strength, swing with the new ball, and a ceiling that rises every month he plays. Some players explode on day one. Others take time to sharpen into weapons. Harshit is clearly the latter, and the selectors know it.
Funny, isn’t it? If a player isn’t backed, you call the management clueless. If a player is backed, you call it favouritism. But selectors don’t function on fan emotions or Twitter trends. They look at skill, growth, temperament, and long-term value. And Harshit checks those boxes with ease.
So, troll him if that makes you feel better. Question his place if that gives you engagement. Laugh at him, mock him, doubt him. Because every time he runs in with the ball, he isn’t trying to silence you with words - he’s silencing you with wickets.
Harshit Rana is not a product of hype. He’s a product of hard work. And right now, he’s proving exactly why he’s here to stay.
