Harshit Rana walking in ahead of Shivam Dube shocked many fans tonight — but it turns out the move may not have been a spur-of-the-moment decision. The official Playing XI sheet for the 2nd T20I at the MCG lists Harshit Rana at No.6, above Dube, indicating that India had already planned to give the youngster a batting opportunity in a key middle-order slot.
With India five wickets down early, the management backed Rana to step in instead of the experienced Dube, signalling a potential long-term vision to groom the pacer as a bowling all-rounder. The selection raised questions even before the match, as Arshdeep Singh sat out and Rana retained his spot — a call that now seems linked to evaluating his all-round ability under pressure.
Social media had already wondered whether Rana was seen as a more trusted lower-order batting option, and this batting order confirmation strengthens that theory. India appear keen to test depth and versatility heading into future T20 cycles, particularly ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Now, with the spotlight on him, Rana has a rare chance to justify management’s faith and stake a claim as a multi-skill asset in India’s evolving T20 blueprint.
