Harshit Rana puts Gauti bhaiya ‘above everyone else’ in gratitude after maiden India call-up | Cricket News

Rookie Indian fast bowler Harshit Rana had the skills but lacked self-assurance until Gautam Gambhir stepped in and encouraged him to confront his apprehensions. At just 22 years old, Rana is thrilled to have been selected for the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka next month.
“I believed in working hard but whenever I used to get hurt after being overlooked in age-group teams, I would sit in my room and start sobbing.My father (Pradeep) never ever gave up hope,” Rana said while talking to PTI, after learning about his maiden India call-up.He expressed his elation by sharing an Instagram photo of himself hoisting his equally ecstatic father. However, when acknowledging those who have influenced him, Rana was unequivocal in placing “Gauti Bhaiyya above everyone else”.

The young cricketer, hailing from Delhi, had faced numerous challenges during his junior career, frequently being overlooked by selectors. However, his fortunes took a remarkable turn when he delivered an outstanding performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year.
Playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) , he emerged as a key contributor to the team’s victorious campaign, claiming an impressive 19 wickets.
“If I have to name three people whom I am indebted to in this beautiful journey of mine, then it is my father for his efforts, my personal coach Amit Bhandari sir (former India and Delhi pacer) and above everyone else, Gauti bhaiyya, (Gautam Gambhir),” Rana said.
Gambhir, who served as the mentor for KKR during the recent season, has now assumed the role of India’s head coach, succeeding Rahul Dravid. This transition occurred after India’s victorious campaign at the T20 World Cup held in the West Indies.

Rana expressed his gratitude towards Gambhir, emphasizing the unwavering support he has received from him since their first interaction.
“If my outlook towards the game has changed, a lot of it has got to do with Gauti bhaiyya’s presence in the KKR dressing room and how he changed my mindset. At the elite level, you require skills but more than the skills, you require the heart to handle the pressure.
“Gauti bhaiyya would always tell me ‘mere ko tere pe trust hai. Tu match jeetake aayega’. (I trust you, you can win the match),” Rana recalled one of his interactions with the firebrand former opener, who is known to speak his mind.
Rana’s 2022 began promisingly, featuring in seven Ranji Trophy matches for Delhi and securing 28 wickets. However, his participation in red-ball cricket was hindered by injuries in the subsequent period.

Despite the setbacks, Rana showcased his exceptional skills in white-ball formats, particularly in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he claimed 22 wickets in 14 matches for Delhi. Additionally, he demonstrated his prowess in the shorter format, taking 28 wickets in 25 T20 games.
Performing at the iconic Eden Gardens before a massive crowd of 60,000 spectators, Rana exhibited his mastery by executing precise block-hole deliveries, wide yorkers, and deceptive slow bouncers. His ability to maintain composure and trust his skills under immense pressure has been a key factor in his success.
“If you ask about the pressure part, it is Gambhir’s advice. He would say, ‘what’s the worst thing that will happen? You will get hit and we can lose the match. But if you don’t face your fears, how will you overcome them?’ There will always be a new day, new match and things will fall in place. That’s what you train for,” said the lanky player, who trained under Bhandari and Narinder Singh Negi in Delhi’s Players’ Academy.

“If you talk about my skill-set, then Bhandari sir and Negi sir have been my personal coaches for past two years,” he added.
Bhandari shared an interesting story around that with PTI.
“I didn’t know who this boy was. In fact, when he came to me, he had not played for KKR but had played Ranji Trophy. He only called me up and said, ‘sir, can you train me?’,” Bhandari, who is an assistant coach with Gujarat Titans, recalled.
“the first day he came, I didn’t give him a new ball but an old ball and told him the areas (he needed to bowl) along with an instruction. Just bowl and don’t look at me or come to me. If I feel, I will call you.”
It didn’t take much time for Bhandari to take Rana under his ranks.
“What I saw was a nice run-up but once he reached the crease, after load-up, everything needed a bit of work — the non-bowling hand, alignment; and he was ready to work,” he said.
“In Delhi, you always hear about corruption, groupism, nepotism. Now look at the bonafide Delhi greats. Most of them, within two years of their Delhi debut, have played for India,” he pointed out.
“Viru (Sehwag), Gauti (Gambhir), Ishant (Sharma), and Rishabh (Pant) all had talent and didn’t hover around domestic cricket for long. If you are a talented Delhi cricketer, system can’t stop you. And if you aren’t, then even in 15 years you won’t make it,” Bhandari said.