Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Harshit Rana has earned high praise from India captain Shubman Gill for his rapidly improving batting skills, positioning him as a valuable all-round prospect for the future. Rana delivered crucial contributions with the bat during the recent ODI series against New Zealand, notably scoring a counter-attacking 52 off 43 balls in the final match.
Gill emphasized the strategic importance of having depth in the batting order, particularly at the number eight position, and noted Rana's dedication to developing his hitting ability. Rana's performances, which included 83 runs across the series at a strike rate of 118.57, provided late-order momentum that is increasingly vital in modern white-ball cricket.
Beyond his batting, Gill highlighted Rana's potential as a long-term asset, citing his ability to consistently bowl at 140 kph combined with his height. This dual threat capability makes the KKR youngster a highly promising player to watch as he continues to grow and contribute to the team's success.
This analysis was generated by Third Umpire using official IPL statistics and live match data.
Learn how this works →
“In the first ODI, the knock that he played, and in this one, he's someone who is really improving in his batting. The position that he is batting at, No. 8, it's a really important position for us.”
Leading best bowling strike rate performers in IPL Career (bowling specialists only: bowlers/all-rounders)
Open the full leaderboard for detailed rankings.
| Statistic |
|---|
Best Strike Rate - Career Led by Jamie Overton (214.29) |
Keep exploring stats tailored to Harshit Rana and KKR.
He received support from Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored 53 off 57 balls, and Harshit Rana, who impressed with a quick 52 off 43 deliveries.
Rohit bhai then said, ‘From now on, whenever a new batter comes in, you will take a slip — whether I’m there or not.
Harshit Rana: 23 wickets (13 innings)

“In the first ODI, the knock that he played, and in this one, he's someone who is really improving in his batting. The position that he is batting at, No. 8, it's a really important position for us.”