Delhi speedster Harshit Rana was on Tuesday called up to the India squad for the third Test against New Zealand in Mumbai, starting on Friday. The Indian Express understands that Rana may even have an outside chance of making his Test debut at the Wankhede Stadium if India decide to shuffle their pace bowling attack to rest Jasprit Bumrah or test a new face ahead of the tour of Australia, now that the three-match home series against the Kiwis is already lost after defeats in Bengaluru and Pune. Rana has been included in the 18-player squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting on November 22. He will be part of a six-man seam attack led by Bumrah. The 22-year-old Rana had an impressive all-round performance as Delhi registered a 10-wicket win over Assam to earn a bonus point in the Ranji Trophy game that ended on Tuesday. Rana took seven wickets, including a five-wicket haul, and scored a quickfire fifty at No. 8. Included as a travelling reserve with the Indian squad at the start of the New Zealand series, Rana was later released to play the third-round match against Assam. “The team management wanted me to play domestically before heading to Australia, and I’m glad I performed well in this match with both bat and ball,” Rana said about his performance against Assam. His state team coach is rooting for him to get an India cap in the third Test against New Zealand. “If India wants him to play, I would love to see it. If he plays a Test before going to Australia, it’s better for both Harshit and India to have a strong fast bowler,” former national selector and current Delhi coach Sarandeep Singh told The Indian Express. “Rana has shown that he’s ready for Test matches. He took five wickets in the first innings, scored a half-century, and provided crucial breakthroughs in the second innings.” Ahead of the Assam game, Sarandeep was eager to bring Harshit into the playing XI. “I told Rana that he was on the verge of an opportunity with India and that he should aim for a five-wicket haul. He got motivated and delivered. He’s ready to play now,” said the Delhi coach. Returning to red-ball cricket after a year in the Duleep Trophy, Rana took eight wickets in two outings. He was later named in India’s T20I squad against Bangladesh but didn't make his India debut as the hosts won the series 3-0. India’s squad for the third Test against New Zealand: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana.
