Watch: Harshit Rana receives special mention by India coach Gautam Gambhir for his brilliant bowling SCG ODI win

India head coach Gautam Gambhir was ecstatic after his side denied Australia a maiden series whitewash with a convincing win in the third ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday. 

Gambhir lauded stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for their unbeaten 168-run stand, while also applauding seamer Harshit Rana’s incisive spell that set the tone for India’s victory.

Rana’s 4/39 restricted Australia to 236 despite Matt Renshaw’s 56. Chasing the target, India lost Shubman Gill for 24 after a 69-run opening stand, before Rohit and Kohli’s unbroken 168-run partnership sealed the game.

Kohli remained unbeaten on 74* with seven boundaries, while Rohit struck his 33rd ODI ton, scoring 121* with 13 fours and three sixes.

“That was an outstanding spell”- Gambhir lauds Harshit Rana’s brilliant bowling

Gambhir lauded the bowlers for executing their plans perfectly and keeping the Australian batters in check during the final ODI. He singled out young pacer Harshit Rana for special praise, noting his exceptional spell of 4/39 that proved crucial in restricting the hosts’ scoring rate in the first innings on Saturday.

Rana had been under fire for his expensive bowling in the first and second ODIs, but received rich praise from everyone for his brilliant bowling in SCG ODI. Rana dismissed Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen and Josh Hazlewood in his 8.4 overs. 

“We spoke about turning up today (for the 3rd ODI) wanting to do something special and we wanted to be desperate; we wanted to put our bodies on the line. And I think we did everything, we ticked all the boxes. Especially to start, I think the bowlers were outstanding. The kind of start Australia had 63/0, from there to restricting them all out on 237 was an outstanding effort. And special mention to Harshit. That was an outstanding spell. The part is to stay humble, stay calm and keep working hard, it's just this start, it's not the end,” said Gambhir in a BCCI video. 

Here is the video:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQTC1CIE86V/

The focus now shifts to the T20 format, with Suryakumar Yadav set to lead the Men in Blue in a five-match series against Mitchell Marsh’s Australia. The opening game will take place on Wednesday, October 29, at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.

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