Why Harshit Stayed Back: 'Back-Up Bowler Who Could Execute Bouncer-Led Strategy'
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Harshit Rana has been released from India's squad ahead of the second Test in Birmingham. Initially added for the first Test, Rana is now returning to India.
Harshit Rana has been released from India's squad ahead of the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, for which the team has travelled to Birmingham.
Sources have revealed why Rana was asked to stay back, given the fact that he is now returning to India from Leeds.
Rana was initially added to India's squad for the first Test in Leeds, which England won by five wickets by chasing 371 on a thrilling final day at Headingley.
'Actually, one of the pacers in the main Test team had a niggle. If the team think-tank wished to have someone as a back-up bowler who could execute a bouncer-led strategy, it was Rana who fit the bill and thus was held back," sources were quoted as saying by IANS.
'But as things stand, everything is fine now. As a result, Rana has now been released from the squad, and that's why he was not spotted with the team on their travel to Birmingham," the sources added.
'Harshit Rana has been released from the squad. He hasn't travelled with the Indian squad to Birmingham for the second Test starting July 4," a BCCI source was quoted as saying by PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Rana made his Test debut during last year's tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, where he managed to pick up four wickets at an average of 50.75, with his best figures being 3-48 in Perth. In England, Rana played for India 'A' against the England Lions at Canterbury, where he returned with figures of 1/99 and scored 16 runs.
Plans For 2nd Test
With England now 1-0 up in the five-match series, India must bounce back, especially after suffering a stinging defeat in Leeds, despite having five centuries and a five-wicket haul in their records.
'Harshit Rana, I will discuss with chairman of selectors. He was held back because of some niggles… everything is fine. I will discuss, and we will then take that call," head coach Gautam Gambhir was quoted as saying at the post-match press conference after losing the opening Test.
(With inputs from Agencies)
First Published:
June 25, 2025, 23:13 IST
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