In his fledgling career as an international cricketer, Harshit Rana had already proved his genius on multiple occasions, his sensational display of fast bowling affirming the hype around him. He rose to prominence last year, after taking 19 wickets for Kolkata Knight Riders in their title-winning season, and followed it up with a pretty decent international debut in all three formats. Yet, the moment that really stands out from his nascent career is not his ferocious spells, not even the famous delivery that exorcised the ghost of Travis Head in Perth, but an on-pitch banter with Mitchell Starc on his Test debut in Australia last year. When a quick and zesty delivery rose uncomfortably to Starc, kissing the outer edge of his blade and falling just short of the slip cordon, one could see the tantalising tongue of Rana coming out, his eyes glistening. Starc, beaten by the pace, was quick to remind the youngster that he could be quicker. "Harshit, I bowl faster than you. I have a long memory," he said. Rana offered a tender smile, and walked away.
Starc was not asserting his superiority here. It was his way of acknowledging the brilliance of Rana, his mate from KKR, who was bowling with great ferocity and conviction on what was his first overseas Test. Perhaps this is how true appreciation is registered in the high-performing alley of genuine pacers, where speed is not just a vital component of their game, but a matter of pride. If one of the modern-day greats feels the urge to remind him that he can bowl faster, it's a psychological victory for a young kid who has always carried a dream to be known for being quick and destructive. It was a stamp of approval for Rana, who grew up idolising Shoaib Akhtar. "My father always used to say that I have to bowl fast. I have to bowl 150+. There are very few fast bowlers who can bowl at that pace consistently. That's why I used to idolise Shoaib while growing up," says Rana, in an exclusive interview with Man's World India.
Few bowlers in this cricket-frenzied nation are capable of bowling as fast as Rana. Even fewer who can keep their sense of control and clarity intact while operating at such raw, unadulterated speed, and this is what makes Rana one of the most promising fast bowling talents in the country. At the age of 20, he got his first IPL contract, after Kolkata Knight Riders signed him as an injury replacement. In his first two seasons, playing time was limited, but training alongside veterans of the game in a high-pressure environment honed his skills and set him up for eventual success. "I have grown a lot as a bowler since joining KKR. Working with Gautam Gambhir and Abhishek Nayar taught me the importance of mental clarity to succeed as a bowler," says Rana, who became the second leading wicket-taker for the franchise in his third season.
While his raw pace garnered widespread admiration, the real magic was his knack for reading the pitch, and bowling accordingly. He would often intersperse his high-pace bowling with a brilliant slow cutter that would bamboozle even the best batters in the league. 10 of his 19 wickets came on a slower delivery, the most notable being a deft off-cutter he delivered to get rid of Heinrich Klaasen and defend 12 runs in the last over. It was the performance that made him a hero for the home fans and sealed his place in the team. What it also did was to give him the nerve to engage in a conversation with the team's owner and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, something that he could not muster the courage to do when he met him for the first time. "I first met him in 2023 at Eden Gardens. I was new to the team and not playing the match. When he came to the dressing room, I saw some of our big players chatting with him like old mates. I, too, wanted to share such moments, but all I managed was a shy hug. But the distance has reduced now. We know each other, and we do indulge in conversations every time he breaks into the dressing room. It's always special," says Rana, who has taken 15 wickets in his first 12 league games.
His rise has been meteoric, not just in the IPL, but also in the international arena. In just over twelve months, he won the IPL title with Kolkata Knight Riders, made his Test, T20I, and ODI debut, and won the Champions Trophy. While he is grateful for these accolades, one that he is most proud of is when he broke the 150 kph pace barrier, in the T20I match against England. "It was my father's dream. That's why I give more importance to it than anything else. He is the one who made me. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have achieved anything," says the speedster who is likely to be flying off to England for the Test series.
His towering, sinewed physique and austere face may cloud the fact that he is just 23, but then there are moments when his untamed rage springs up—the fiery sends-offs that have been met with fine and ban, the piercing stare to unsettle a batter, the inciting words to provoke an opponent, the propensity to get into on-field spats— that alludes to the raw, unflinching spirit of a young pacer. The aggression is not an act. It comes naturally to him, putting him in a league of young and fearless pacers who don't mind picking up on opponents. "When I enter the field, I just think about giving my best. I don't think about showing aggression. The hunger to always put my best foot forward and end up on the winning side, sometimes, gets channelised into aggression. It just comes to me, and I don't hide it," he quips.
As much as the swift ascent of Rana vindicates his passion and toil, it also brings intense scrutiny, the pressure to live up to expectations, but he is ready for it. "I like taking responsibility and doing everything in my power to help my team win," he adds. He feels confident in navigating the erratic terrains of elite sports. A key lesson in handling bad days on the field came while observing Starc in the dressing room during last year's IPL. "I noticed how Starc stayed unaffected by his performance on the field," he said. "Whether he claimed three or four wickets or gave up 50 or 60 runs, he was the same—always with a smile. I've learned to carry that same steadiness, no matter how the day unfolds."
The young pacer comes across as a keen observer of the game, perceptive to his surroundings, always making mental notes of traits that make someone an exemplary exponent of their craft. If being around Starc taught him the art of staying the same even on a bad day, bowling with Jasprit Bumrah made him realise the importance of outwitting an opponent, "to always think ahead of a batter".
But his inquisitiveness extends beyond the 22 yards of the pitch. He represents the new crop of cricketers who take their sartorial game just as seriously as the game of cricket. Rana credits his newfound interest in fashion to the flamboyant Nitish Rana —a veteran IPL batter who had recommended Harshit's name to KKR in 2020. "I got to know a bit about fashion, only after staying with Nitish bhai. I have become fond of Louis Vuitton. I like their shoes. I have too many LV sneakers, and I wear them a lot. I also cherish my Alexander McQueen sneaker," says Rana. Fashion or cricket, Rana is here to slay!
