Abhishek Sharma, India’s standout performer in the recent T20I, has defended the team’s decision to promote Harshit Rana up the batting order during a critical phase of the match against Australia. Rana’s elevation, ahead of Shivam Dube, aimed to stabilize the innings after an early collapse at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Sharma acknowledged that Rana’s composure at the crease, alongside his own, was crucial in building a 56-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Rana’s impressive 35-run knock validated the tactical choice.
Sharma shared insights into Rana’s batting prowess, referencing their net sessions. “I knew Harshit could bat — he hits sixes off me a lot in the nets,” Sharma commented. “He told me, ‘let’s play a little normal’, and that helped. The right-left combination worked well, and that’s why he went up the order ahead of Shivam Dube.” Although Rana, who replaced Arshdeep Singh, was unable to take a wicket in his two overs, his batting contribution was a positive takeaway, showcasing his all-round potential.