Nervy, scrappy, but vital: Why Harshit Rana’s cameo in Vadodara is a good sign for Team India in the long run

January 11, Vadodara. India versus New Zealand . ODIs may be the lesser pertinent of the two white-ball formats (with a T20 World Cup looming), but the Kotambi Stadium is still packed to the rafters. No prizes for guessing why.

After 89 overs, India are ahead. India are comfortably ahead, in fact. India need 301 to win, but Virat Kohli, in a run-chase, is doing Virat Kohli things . Rohit Sharma also dazzled for a bit at the top and Shubman Gill, starved of runs lately in white-ball cricket and struggling for rhythm in general owing to recent injuries, has notched up a half century too.

Kohli and Shreyas Iyer are at the crease at the end of India’s 39th over. The former chasing yet another hundred; the latter eyeing a half century on return after his own run-ins with injury.

A twist in the tale

There are no real demons in the pitch. The Kiwi attack is also inexperienced, and all signs point toward this being a canter past the finish line. But then comes a twist. Almost like those waves on a beach that arrive quicker than expected. A position of solidity turns into something wobblier. And India’s middle order, perhaps sitting with their feet up and sipping a cup of tea (or coffee), are suddenly thrust into action.

One of those thrown into the deep end is Ravindra Jadeja. He began tidily with the ball but came in for some tap towards the end of his spell as New Zealand accelerated. With Washington Sundar off the field for a length of time owing to injury, the spotlight on Jadeja, as a batter and as the team’s premier all-rounder, has just increased.

Unfortunately for India, he cannot capitalise. He perishes in tame fashion, and with Shreyas following him to the shed soon after, India, from needing 67 off 66 with eight wickets in hand, require 59 off 53 with only five wickets left - one of whom is an injured Sundar.

Thankfully for India, they get the job done. Not in the most elegant of manners. But it does shed light on what India’s middle order might need to do forward, and why they have, especially under this current regime, been hell-bent on moulding Harshit Rana into a particular role.

The finishing touches on Sunday were applied by KL Rahul. Meaning that if that moment were to be played over and over again on ads and through other such media, his face could be the one plastered. But a case could be made that Rana’s cameo was just as pivotal, if not more.

Batting potential pushes Rana to front of queue

That cameo was not completely risk-free. On occasions, Rana swung himself off his feet and only swatted away flies rather than laying bat on ball. He was also handed a reprieve in the 44th over by Daryl Mitchell, who shelled a chance that he would have ordinarily taken.

But Rana kept at it. Almost as if it was the team’s brief for him to keep swinging and keep chancing his luck, in the knowledge that Sundar, if required, could just hold an end up, with Rana’s attempt at quick runs also allowing KL Rahul to bat as deep into the innings as possible.

And that is the kind of flexibility Rana provides, and also explains why he features so heavily in India’s plans across formats. His bowling, of course, is his primary suit but his batting potential at number eight, where India, in the past, have persisted with Shardul Thakur, is what has pushed Rana to the front of the queue.

His ball-striking did not come through at the start of his international career. But in recent months, perhaps from the beginning of India’s white-ball tour to Australia in October, it has picked up, meaning that the extra batting muscle India crave, is slowly becoming a reality.

It does also offer them a fail-safe option, and perhaps gives those above Rana increased freedom to express themselves. Not to mention the advantages of a deep batting unit and the psychological effect it may have on the opposition. As was the case on Sunday, when New Zealand may have sensed the door was ajar, only for it to be slammed shut, albeit after a bit of creaking.

Far too often in the past decade, India have been guilty of being very top-heavy. And a case could be made that this top order - currently housing a resurgent Rohit, an almost imperious Kohli, and Gill, who has an enviable record himself - is one of the best India have had in a long time. Meaning that there will be matches where the middle order is not even required to bat, let alone them having the luxury of spending time at the crease.

Injecting belief of fighting back from any situation

And that is why this win, maybe nervy and definitely scrappy, could be vital. Just to inject belief that India, even if pushed into a corner in tense situations, can emerge unscathed. Because in this game, India and their fans experienced almost the full spectrum of emotions.

At one point, India were cruising. They had the run rate under control. They had wickets in hand. They had set batters at the crease too. And they had New Zealand on the ropes, with the visitors perhaps wondering where the next opening would come from, and how they would be able to fashion it.

But then, all of a sudden, India found themselves in strife. Which was mostly their own doing. And which nearly undermined what would have otherwise been, and what probably should have been a routine run-chase and a routine win.

In the end, it was only a blip as India crossed the finish line . But if they are not careful, it could become more of a roadblock moving forward. Which is why Rana’s cameo and Rahul’s soaking up of pressure was not just needed in the immediate term, but also valuable from a longer-term perspective.

The critics will argue that it could have been much smoother. Fewer hairy moments would have added a greater sense of calm and lent weight to the notion that Rana and India planned this victory, rather than just swinging and stumbling upon it.

But it can also not be denied that a win is a win. Nothing builds up momentum quite like winning. And for the moment, that might be just enough. Even if it may not be much. And even if it may not have been the grandstand finish thousands had come to witness.