As of Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Harshit Rana is a rising star in Indian cricket who has gained attention both for his promising talent and the controversies around his selection. This article tells the story of his early life, career journey, and major headlines about him, written in simple language for beginners.
Early Life
Harshit Pradeep Rana was born on December 22, 2001. He grew up in a small village called Ghevra, near the border of Delhi and Haryana. His family has a strong sports background. His father, Pradeep Rana, was not just an ordinary man; he was a weightlifter and hammer thrower for CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force). Inspired by his father, Harshit started playing cricket at a very young age – when he was just 10 years old. His father personally trained him in the early days. Harshit also went to Ganga International School, where a cricket coach named Shravan Kumar saw his talent and gave him formal cricket training. This early support helped him build a strong base for his cricket career.
Harshit Rana Age, Height, Wiki, Biography, Wife, Family
Career
Harshit’s journey into professional cricket started when he was selected to play for Delhi in domestic cricket competitions. He showed hard work and passion in every match. In 2022, Harshit got a big chance when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), a team in the Indian Premier League (IPL), bought him during their player auction. He made his debut in the IPL on April 28, 2022. This was a major milestone for the young fast bowler.
In the domestic tournaments, Harshit improved quickly. In 2023, he made headlines by scoring his first century in first-class cricket while playing for the North Zone team during the Duleep Trophy quarterfinal. He scored 122 runs without getting out in just 86 balls, proving that he could not only bowl but also bat well.
Rise in Indian Cricket
Harshit became especially popular in 2024 when he took 19 wickets in 13 matches during the IPL, becoming one of the top wicket-takers that season. His bowling average was 20.16, which is impressive for a young fast bowler. His success in the IPL and domestic cricket earned him a spot in the Indian national team.
He was selected in the Indian squad for major tournaments in 2025, such as the ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup. India won both these tournaments, and Harshit was part of the winning team. His inclusion in these big events showed that the selectors had faith in his ability to perform at the international level.
Headlines
Although Harshit gained fame for his cricket skills, he also faced criticism, especially from fans and cricket experts. Many questioned why he was picked for important series, like India’s white-ball tour of Australia in October 2025. Some people felt other players, like Mohammad Shami, should have been selected instead. They pointed out that Harshit’s recent performances were not always good, highlighting that he gave many runs and took fewer wickets in some matches like the Asia Cup.
Because of this, Harshit faced trolling and harsh comments on social media. Some accused him of getting special treatment because of his connection with India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir, as both have links with the Kolkata Knight Riders team. This created controversy and debates among cricket fans and experts.
However, Gautam Gambhir and BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla came forward to support Harshit publicly. Gambhir said it was wrong to attack the young player personally and that social media trolling was harmful to his morale. Shukla stated that criticism should be responsible and not bring down a player’s confidence. Even former Indian captain and selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth expressed his views by calling Harshit a "permanent member in the team," showing trust in his potential despite the criticism.
Summary
Harshit Rana is a talented young cricketer from Delhi who started playing cricket early with encouragement from his father, a former weightlifter. He quickly rose through domestic cricket ranks, debuted in the IPL in 2022, and then moved on to represent India in major international tournaments where he tasted victory. While his career has had bright moments, he also faced criticism and tough scrutiny about his selection. Prominent figures in cricket have supported him, emphasizing the importance of nurturing young talent.
Harshit’s story teaches us about hard work, early training, facing challenges, and the need for support in sports. His journey shows how young Indian players continue to come up strong, inspired by their roots and dreams to represent their country on the world stage.