The recent intra-squad match between the Indian team in England was a warm-up for the upcoming Test series against England. Although the game was mostly a preparation match for the senior team under Shubman Gill’s captaincy, it also served as a launchpad for India A players to stake their claims.
Rana’s Uncertain Future
As per report BY Revsportz, India A fast bowler Harshit Rana will not head back to India with the rest of his team on June 17. Instead, he will remain behind in England. The reason behind his longer stay is still unclear. Although most Indian cricketers have been offered deals by County clubs, the case of Rana seems to be different. The report refused to state if this implies that he may be called into the senior Test side.
Mixed Performances in England So Far
Rana played in just one India A official game, in which he returned with modest statistics—one wicket for 99 runs and 16 runs contribution with the bat. The report on how he performed in the intra-squad match is not disclosed since the match was played without fanfare or media coverage.
Rise After IPL Success
The Delhi youngster impressed everyone with his breakout season in IPL 2024 playing for Kolkata Knight Riders. Under the guidance of Gautam Gambhir, Rana’s performances were appreciated and ultimately resulted in his Indian debut during the Perth Test against Australia. He played two Tests on that tour, grabbing four wickets.
Not Yet Selected for England Tour
Although Rana had performed well previously, he was not initially named in the Indian team for the England Test series. The panel of selectors preferred a pace attack made up of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna.
Indian Squad to Report in Leeds
Indian team will arrive in Leeds on June 17 prior to the first Test, which is to start from June 20. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, who had gone back to India for a while due to personal reasons, is likely to join the team then.
