14 ODIs, 26 wickets and now a half-century too… Harshit Rana confirmed for 2027? Know which players may face problems

The India-New Zealand ODI series may have ended, but this series has definitely given many important hints about the future of Team India. While on one hand Virat Kohli removed all the doubts about his form with a century and a half-century, on the other hand there was a young player who made a consistent impact in all three matches and firmly included himself in the race for the 2027 ODI World Cup. This name is – Harshit Rana.

In his ODI career so far, Harshit Rana had already caught the attention of the selectors with the ball, but in this series against New Zealand, he also made such a contribution with the bat, which has presented him as a strong fast-bowling all-rounder. 26 wickets in 14 ODI matches and now a half-century innings at a crucial juncture – these figures clearly indicate that Harshit is not just a player of one phase, but a horse of long race.

Harshit Rana is one of the few young cricketers who are currently playing all three formats (Test, ODI and T20) and are proving themselves at every level. However, his most effective performance has been seen in ODI cricket only. Along with fast bowling, the ability to add runs lower down the order is considered extremely important in today’s cricket – and this is why Harshit is considered a strong contender for the 2027 World Cup squad.

In such a situation, it is natural to raise the question that if Harshit Rana continues to perform like this, then which players’ place in the team may be in danger?

Nitish Kumar Reddy

The first name that comes to the fore is Nitish Kumar Reddy. Reddy definitely made some contributions with the bat in this series and even scored a half-century in the last match, but he failed to make an impact in bowling. He got a chance after the injury to Washington Sundar, but could not strengthen his claim as a regular all-rounder. Selectors usually look for an all-rounder who can make a consistent impact in both departments—and at the moment, Harshit Rana seems to fit the bill.

Akshar Patel

Akshar Patel’s name also comes in this discussion. Axar has been an important part of the ODI setup for a long time, but in recent times his impact has not been as visible as before. If Akshar has to retain his place in the team, he will have to make a strong comeback with both ball and bat. Team management is now giving priority to overall impact and not just experience.

Jadeja’s magic didn’t work

Talking about Ravindra Jadeja, the New Zealand series was not particularly memorable for him. On the basis of his excellent all-round performance in Test cricket, he definitely got a chance in ODIs, but in this series he was neither able to make an impact with the ball nor score big runs with the bat. Considering his age and workload, the role of Jadeja in future plans is also considered to be decided.

Mohammed Shami and famous Krishna

Talking about fast bowlers, Mohammed Shami and Prasidh Krishna are also not untouched by this equation. Shami is out of the team since the Champions Trophy. Even though he has been performing well in domestic cricket and has been the highest wicket-taker in the 2023 World Cup, the selection committee currently seems to give preference to bowlers who can also contribute with the bat when needed.

Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna did not perform as per his potential in the New Zealand series. Limited impact in the second ODI and being out of the playing eleven in the third match indicates that Team India is examining all options.

Overall, Harshit Rana’s rise is not just an individual player’s success, but a symbol of the changing mindset of Team India—where the future belongs to players who have the ability to change the course of a match with the ball, bat and fielding. If Harshit continues to move ahead with this consistency, then his presence in the 2027 World Cup has now become not just a possibility but a strong claim.