"Both we and the Kolkata Knight Riders are asking that question" - Aakash Chopra on whether Harshit Rana will make his debut in IND vs BAN 3rd T20I
Aakash Chopra reckons Harshit Rana's potential debut will be the biggest question in the third T20I between India and Bangladesh in Hyderabad on Saturday, October 12. He pointed out that the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the rest of the franchises will be curious to see if the right-arm seamer gets a look-in.
Harshit is the only uncapped player in India's 15-member squad for the ongoing T20I series against Bangladesh. KKR will have the option to retain the Delhi seamer for ₹4 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 auction if he remains uncapped till October 31.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener noted that all the franchises, especially KKR, will be keen to see whether Harshit gets the India cap in the final T20I against Bangladesh.
"Today evening's match is in Hyderabad. The only question there is whether Harshit Rana will make his debut. Both we and the Kolkata Knight Riders are asking that question. The rest of the franchises are also asking whether Harshit Rana will remain uncapped or reach the auction as a capped player," he said (0:30).
Chopra pointed out that Suryakumar Yadav and company could have contrasting thoughts while deciding the XI.
"This is the opportunity to make changes if you wish to because you have won the series and the opposing team is looking so ordinary that it seems like they won't compete at all. The other side of the coin is that it's just a three-match series and whoever has been given a chance should get three at least," he explained.
India played the same XI in the first two T20Is. However, they might consider making some changes for the final game as they have already sealed the series with emphatic wins in Gwalior and Delhi.
"You can rest Arshdeep and play Harshit Rana" - Aakash Chopra
![Arshdeep Singh is the only experienced specialist seamer in India's squad. [P/C: BCCI]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/1c9af-17287053551900-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that either Hardik Pandya or Arshdeep Singh can make way for Harshit Rana.
"One thing is you might rest Hardik Pandya because the batting is already quite long. Washington Sundar and all hardly get batting, and even if it comes, 220 are already scored. So you can play one more bowler in place of him (Hardik), or else you can rest Arshdeep and play Harshit Rana," he said (1:50).
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the Men in Blue can also consider including Ravi Bishnoi in the XI.
"Otherwise, we can play another leg-spinner, which means we can give a chance to Ravi Bishnoi. Those are the questions. You want Riyan Parag to get proper batting and Rinku Singh has also got to bat just once. So there you could think that no changes in batting but you could see some changes in bowling. I feel they should do that," Chopra observed.
Chopra concluded by pointing out that both Harshit and Bishnoi can be accommodated in the XI by resting Arshdeep and Pandya.
"You should rest Arshdeep. You don't have to find anything by playing Arshdeep. So you can get Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav and Hardik Pandya/Nitish Kumar Reddy to bowl. You will have three fast bowlers, and then you can play an extra spinner as well. You can ask Hardik not to play. Harshit Rana should have the cap on his head," he elaborated.
Varun Chakaravarthy was preferred ahead of Bishnoi as the specialist spinner for the first two T20Is against Bangladesh. Washington Sundar was the other frontline spinner in the playing XI but he bowled only three overs across the first two games.