Harshit Rana can bat. He has proved that on multiple occasions. Even in Belfast, against Ireland, it was he who almost took India to the margins. But how does that ever justify bringing him within the powerplay! On June 6, in the third T20I against England, Shreyas Iyer's India witnessed another defeat, which was actually humiliating enough to keep the chin up.
India were 5 down, losing all their big names within the power play. Shivam Dube was in the dugout when Harshit Rana came out. Dines Karthik, who was with the mic in the commentary box, was literally stammering with the sight. He did not sugarcoat at all, questioning the bizarreness of promoting Harshit.
Dinesh Karthik pointed out that Rana probably has never played in the powerplay, not even in domestic cricket. But that is not even the point! DK acknowledged Gambhir's blind obsession with the left-right combination but could not reason the demotion of Shivam Dube. He was so frustrated that his fellow commentator Ian Wood was seen consoling him. During the commentary, DK said,
"Harshit Rana coming to bat before Shivam Dube, are you kidding me? I don't even think Harshit Rana has ever batted in the powerplay, even in domestic cricket You can get the left-right combination working in T20 cricket, but only up to a point. Not Harshit Rana ahead of Shivam Dube. I don't know, that was me. As long as they understand it, thats what matters I guess."
Watch the video here:
Read also: Tom Banton takes stunning catch to dismiss Harshit Rana as Jos Tongue gets 4-fer
India script unwanted T20I history in Nottingham
India’s crushing 125-run defeat to England in the third T20I at Trent Bridge was a historic low in more ways than one. Chasing 202, India were bowled out for just 76 in 11.4 overs as Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue ran through the batting line-up to hand England a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. The result marked India’s biggest-ever defeat in T20Is by runs, surpassing their previous worst margin of 80 runs against New Zealand in Wellington in 2019.
It was also the first time in 20 years that India lost a T20I by more than 100 runs. Their previous biggest defeat on English soil had been a 17-run loss to England at the same venue in 2022. Since winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in March 2026, India have now lost four of their last five matches and are yet to register a win. The Nottingham defeat was also Shreyas Iyer’s fourth loss as India captain.
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