"Harshit Rana in place of Yash Dayal" - Dinesh Karthik opines on India Test squad for Bangladesh series

BCCI announced a 16-member squad for the first Test of the Bangladesh Tour of India slated later this month. The upcoming series will feature many notable names like KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant returning to the longest format of the game after varied spans of hiatus. While the squad for first Ind vs Ban Test has named the primary players, pacer Yash Dayal has earned his maiden call-up in the Indian side. Former Indian wicket keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, however, has questioned whether an additional fast bowler could have been included. Karthik suggested that there might have been room for one more pacer, either alongside or instead of Yash Dayal.

Dinesh Karthik wants a place for Harshit Rana in the India Test squad

Talking about India squad for Bangladesh Tour of India, Dinesh Karthik suggested that Harshit Rana, the Kolkata Knight Riders pacer, who earned his maiden India call-up for the ODI series in Sri Lanka earlier this summer, could have been a valuable addition to the Test squad for the Bangladesh series. Dinesh Karthik highlighted the noteworthy performance put forth by Harshit Rana in the opening round of the Duleep Trophy.

Playing for India D, Rana claimed four wickets in the first innings in the clash against India C in Anantapur. Harshit stormed on the platform with an impressive display in IPL 2024 for KKR. The young pacer picked up 19 wickets in 13 matches at a strike rate of 13.31 in the season where KKR scored its third title. Effectively, Rana signed off the edition as the fifth-highest wicket-taker overall in and registered uncapped bowler with the most wickets.  

“I just thought, could there have been a spot for Harshit? I felt he bowled well and there is something really special about him. But they already have four good medium pacers,” he said. “Harshit Rana. He has special skills, a good backspin on the ball, kisses off the pitch, and is a very talented fast bowler. I really wish they take him to Australia because he will make a difference there,” he added.

Harshit Rana’s IPL exploits earned him a maiden Indian call-up for the India Tour of Sri Lanka white-ball series. However, as far as the red-ball game is concerned, it seems like the BCCI is looking for Rana to impress in first-class cricket first. The 22-year-old has played only eight first-class games as of yet. The pacer, meanwhile, has 32 first-class scalps to his name at an average of 25.31. Currently playing in the Duleep Trophy, Rana has registered 8 wickets across 3 innings with two 4-fers to his credit.