NEW DELHI: Harshit Rana made a memorable entry into international cricket, delivering a match-winning spell of 3-33 on his T20I debut as India secured a 15-run victory over England in the fourth T20I at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Friday night. The victory gave India an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.
Rana’s dramatic introduction as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube proved decisive, as he dismantled England’s middle and lower order just when the visitors appeared to be regaining momentum in their chase of 182.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
“It is still a dream debut for me,” said an elated Rana after the match. “When Dube came back, after two overs I was informed I would be the concussion substitute. It is not just for this series; I have been waiting for an opportunity for a long time, and I wanted to prove I belong here. I have bowled well in the IPL and was just following the same here.”
Earlier in the game, England’s Saqib Mahmood stunned India with a historic triple-wicket maiden, the first-ever in men’s T20 internationals. He dismissed Sanju Samson (1), Tilak Varma (0), and Suryakumar Yadav (0) in quick succession, leaving India reeling at 12/3 within two overs. However, Hardik Pandya (53) and Shivam Dube (53) rebuilt the innings with a crucial 88-run stand, helping India post a competitive 181/9.
ALSO READ:‘How can an out & out bowler replace a batter’: Harshit Rana’s concussion substitution sparks controversy
India then bowled out England for 166 despite the visitors making a strong start to their chase. England openers put on 62 runs inside powerplay, before Indian bowlers clawed back with regular wickets. Apart from Rana, Ravi Bishnoi returned figures of 3 for 28, while Varun Chakaravarthy took two wickets for 28 runs.
With this win, India secured the series 3-1, heading into the final T20I at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai with the series already in the bag. For Harshit Rana, it was not just a debut but the realisation of a long-cherished dream.
