The young Indian pacer Harshit Rana has revealed some interesting glimpses into the bowler's mindset while batting and also shared some useful advice that he received from India's captain Rohit Sharma.
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The pacer from Delhi was rewarded for his good performances at the IPL and domestic cricket, as he made his India debut in both Tests, as well as the ODI format. Harshit featured in India's marquee Test series against Australia and was also a part of India's title-winning campaign at the ICC Champions Trophy.
Bowlers always feel that they can bat: Rana
Harshit Rana shared some hilarious insights into the bowler's mindset when they go out to bat. Rana remarked that every bowler feels that they can bat, while the job in reality is not that easy.
"We definitely think we can bat. Every bowler believes that he is a good batter. He has to bat," said Rana in a podcast with Ranveer Allahbadia. "Like when I was in the team (Indian team), Rohit bhai told me this thing - we you go out to bat, you think that you are a batter who can score these many runs."
Batting contributions from tailenders often prove to be valuable for their sides, and bowlers who can bat well are great assets for any team and can win them games from crunch situations.
When asked about his mindset when he goes out to bat, Rana, in a hilarious note, said that bowlers often walk in thinking, "Faad dunga" (We'll smash it).
He also reflected on Rohit and Virat Kohli's influence during key tours, such as the recent trip to Australia and the Champions Trophy. They consistently encouraged him to stay true to his natural game and express himself without worrying about external opinions.
"There is a lot to learn from him; if you're playing with him, he gives such clarity that you understand what needs to be done, and this is very important, because he makes sure to explain everything...if you are spending time with him, you are also growing, you're learning those things," said Rana when asked about the learnings from Rohit Sharma.
Their advice was simple: People will praise you when you succeed and criticize you when you don’t, so it's best to stay focused on your own process and not get distracted by outside noise.
Rohit and Virat have both retired from T20Is and Test cricket. The great India duo is expected to produce one last push as they strive to win India a 50-over World Cup in 2027.