Harshit Rana, the Indian pacer, revealed that the team management is focused on developing him into an all-rounder, and he is dedicated to meeting their expectations. In the opening ODI against New Zealand, he took two wickets, giving away 65 runs in his 10 overs.
“The management wants to shape me as an all-rounder, and I’m committed to that goal. I’m working hard in the nets to achieve it. They see me batting at No. 8, and I believe I can contribute 30-40 runs whenever needed,” he stated during a post-match interview.
With the bat, Rana scored 29 runs off 23 balls, including two boundaries and a six. He also expressed his confidence in Virat Kohli, noting that the match felt secure while Kohli was at the crease. “When Virat bhai was playing, it seemed we would finish the game early, perhaps with 5-6 overs left. But in cricket, anything can happen, and it’s unpredictable,” the 24-year-old remarked.
Virat Kohli showcased his brilliance with a fantastic innings of 93 runs from 91 balls, featuring eight fours and a six. This performance made him the fastest player to reach 28,000 runs in all formats of international cricket, achieving this milestone in just 624 innings. Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar, who reached the landmark in 644 innings, and Kumar Sangakkara, who did so in 666 innings.
As of now, the 37-year-old has accumulated 28,068 runs in 625 innings for India. The Men in Blue secured a four-wicket victory over the Kiwis at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium in Kotambi. The second ODI between India and New Zealand is set to take place on February 14 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.