NEW DELHI: Cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar feels that the significance of Harshit Rana's three vital wickets in "many ways" that sealed the match for India should be the main focus, rather than his economy against England in the first ODI at Nagpur.
The youthful seamer has worked hard over the past seven days and made his debut for India in both T20I and ODI. Harshit replaced Shivam Dube due to a concussion in his first T20I match, and his lightning-fast speed left England reeling. He responded with match-winning figures of 3/33 after striking at the pivotal moments.
In contrast to his T20I debut, Harshit's ODI career got off to a terrible start. The English batsmen were ripping runs off his overs; in his first three overs in the powerplay, he let up 37 runs with the new ball.
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Harshit, however, was determined to fight his way to the top. Continuing to play to his strengths, he took three crucial wickets for India, which was a major factor in restricting England to 248.
With the highest economy rate in the Indian bowling unit at 7.60, the 23-year-old finished his seven-over performance with figures of 3/53.
"Its never really about economy. Harshit Rana was the most expensive Indian bowler, but he got three crucial wickets and in many ways, sealed the game for India to win at the halfway stage." Manjrekar wrote on X.
