New Delhi: Delhi Pacers HasitranaHe was called up to the Indian Test team for the away match. Border-Gavaskar Trophy During the series against Australia, he said he enjoys bowling to batting leaders Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the nets as they are always very enthusiastic and give him useful advice.
“I like when both of them (Rohit and Virat) bowl in the nets because they bat with the same intention in the nets as they do in the match. So there is no room for making mistakes or bowling mediocre to them. Virat ( I also spoke to Kohli) bhaiya and Rohit (Sharma) bhaiya and they told me to focus on length and I am trying the same here,” Rana said.
Speaking after his five-wicket performance against Assam in the Ranji Trophy match in Delhi, Rana said he discussed the Australian tour with pace leaders Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah and opened up about his equation with them.
“Recently, when I was with the Indian team, I kept talking to Jassi (Jasprit Bumrah) and (Mohammed) Siraj bhaiya about what I should do if I get a chance to play there (Australia) one day, what I should do. Don’t do it. What length is right for you? I got an idea about all this from both the bowlers – what lengths are not and talking to them helped me a lot,” he concluded.
Along with wicket-keeper batsman Dhruv Jurel, opener Abhimanyu Easwaran and young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, Rana was one of several new players selected for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Rana claimed he had received no indication he would make the team and that his selection was a “big deal” because of how similar his competitive gameplay was to that of the Australian.
“It wasn’t until the team was announced that I found out I was going to Australia. But there were hints that I might be selected to tour Australia because of the preparation I had with the team. It’s a big deal for me to be selected to tour Australia. The competitive attitude we like when we play is very similar to that of Australia,” Rana said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
He added that his father always wanted to play a Test match against England at Lord’s, but he preferred Australia.
“It was my father’s dream for me to play a Test match against England at Lord’s, but I personally prefer Australia,” Rana said.
After a successful 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season with the champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rana, whose pacers took 19 wickets at an average of 20.15 in 13 matches, was a member of the Indian white-ball squad without making his international debut yet.
The 22-year-old claimed that the exposure and contact with the Indian team has really helped him both as an individual and as a cricketer.
“I have been with the India team ever since the IPL and have learned a lot there. This lesson is not only about cricket but also about life, how a sportsman progresses his career and life. As a cricketer too, I am part of the India team. “I have grown a lot while being with you,” he concluded.
