Harshit Rana Unfazed by Critics, Committed to National Duty After ODI Debut in Nagpur
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Synopsis
After achieving a remarkable three-wicket haul on his debut, Indian pacer Harshit Rana stated he is not influenced by external opinions and remains dedicated to serving his country at the international level.
Key Takeaways
- Harshit Rana made a strong debut with 3 wickets.
- He is focused on playing for India amid criticism.
- He recently debuted in T20I cricket before ODIs.
- Rana emphasizes mental preparation for matches.
- India leads the ODI series 1-0 against England.
New Delhi, Feb 7 (NationPress) Following his impressive three-wicket haul on his debut, Indian pacer Harshit Rana expressed that he remains unfazed by external distractions, emphasizing that his primary goal is to represent his nation at the international level.
At just 23 years old, Harshit made a notable impact during his ODI debut against England at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur, achieving figures of 3-33. This performance helped India clinch a four-wicket victory, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
This follows his recent T20I debut against the same team in Pune, where he was brought in as a direct concussion replacement for Shivam Dube, a decision that sparked considerable controversy within the cricketing community.
"I understand that people will always have opinions. My focus is solely on playing, regardless of the circumstances. I'm not concerned about outside chatter; I aim to deliver for my country. The only way to gauge my performance is on the field. I consistently prepare myself mentally for every match, knowing I can step in at any time," stated Rana after the match.
During his inaugural spell, Harshit was hit for 26 runs in just the third over by Phil Salt, but he rebounded by taking crucial wickets, including Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, and Liam Livingstone.
"Cricket is filled with challenges. I maintained my focus on length and was rewarded later. I didn’t alter my approach in my second spell; I just targeted the right areas. This format can be demanding as it requires adapting to various roles, but with diligent practice, it becomes manageable," added Rana.
Both teams are set to travel to Bhubaneshwar for the second ODI match of the series at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday.
