3 reasons why India must play Harshit Rana in 3rd IND vs NZ 2024 Test in Mumbai
By defeating India in consecutive Tests in Bengaluru and Pune, New Zealand have not only created history for the books but also caused significant psychological damage to the whole cricket ecosystem in the Asian country.
Before the first Test, there was an expectation that India would beat New Zealand without losing a game, given how the visitors had been whitewashed in Sri Lanka. After the first Test, the expectations switched to India demolishing Tom Latham's team in Pune, thanks to the memories of Australia 2017 and England 2024.
But now, the blanket feeling is unique for most of the current generation of fans: how to avoid a Test whitewash in a three-match series at home.
In an ideal world for Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir, they would have won the first two Tests against New Zealand in Bengaluru and Pune and used the third game in Mumbai (November 1-5) to try out youngsters, especially Harshit Rana.
But, despite the scoreline being reversed, there's a case for India giving the pace all-rounder a Test debut and not playing safe amid the adversity. Below, we explain in three points why this gamble outweighs all the fears:
#3 Harshit Rana has been in superb form
Harshit, 22, is still young and has a lot of room for improvement. However, in his short tenure, he has shown he can do the job on placid Indian tracks, thanks to his versatility in using different angles, making the ball bounce extra or skid at will, and finding seam and swing movement where available.
Playing his first game of the ongoing Ranji Trophy, he picked up a five-wicket haul for Delhi against Assam on Saturday (October 26). This came after his impressive twin four-wicket hauls in two Duleep Trophy matches for India 'D' earlier and his performance as the highest wicket-taking uncapped player in IPL 2024 for the Kolkata Knight Riders.
There can't be a better venue to give Harshit a debut than Wankhede and use the confidence he has built over these months. The typical pace and bounce available would allow him to express himself and will also give him some experience of the conditions he'll likely find in Australia.
#2 Jasprit Bumrah deserves a rest
Head coach Gautam Gambhir has been warm to the idea of managing the workload of India's fast bowlers ahead of the big series against Australia which begins in November. However, now after losing two on the trot, there would be a temptation to stick with him for the match at his IPL home ground and take his help to avoid an embarrassing whitewash.
But that would be selfish and a gamble with injuries, considering that he has already plowed a lot in back-to-back home Tests in unhelpful conditions for pacers.
India need Bumrah to be well-rested for Australia because he'd likely be the only pacer apart from Pat Cummins (who has played negligible cricket in the last few months) to feature in all five Tests.
With Mohammed Siraj not encouraging any confidence in home conditions, this should be the opportunity for Harshit to make his Test debut and help the team.
Harshit can swing the ball in the first few overs and be the enforcer later. Thus, he can also help India substitute Bumrah's ability to clean up the tail, which neither Siraj nor Akash Deep are particularly good at.
#1 Harshit needs a Test before Australia
Amid the uncertainty around Mohammed Shami's fitness, India needs all pacers on the deck, ready to fire at any venue in Australia. Harshit is one of them and though he hasn't even made his international debut yet, he can be called upon anytime, even in Perth for the first Test.
So, just 10-12 first-class games and two practice matches in Australia won't be enough. Although he seems like a confident and assured pacer, even the best crack in Australia; the youngster needs as many Tests under his belt as possible to be considered ready.
The last match against New Zealand is the only one left and India can't waste this opportunity. He can be paired with Akash -- who also needs Tests -- and India can probe the duo's handling of pressure in defending a home whitewash.
For Harshit, the trial could be two-fold -- he's also a good hitter lower down the order and found success with the bat in the Duleep Trophy. If he can impress against New Zealand's bowlers, too, India will get the confidence that they have unlocked a Cameron Green-like X-factor for the crucial Test series.
This is still not a dead rubber because there are World Test Championship points on the line. But considering the need to protect Bumrah, Harshit's form and how well the Wankhede conditions would suit him, there won't be a better time to throw him in the ring.