{"id":233356,"date":"2025-02-06T18:50:14","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T18:50:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/06\/not-bothered-by-outside-noise-my-focus-is-on-delivering-for-country-says-harshit-rana-cricket-news-the-times-of-india\/"},"modified":"2025-02-06T18:50:14","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T18:50:14","slug":"not-bothered-by-outside-noise-my-focus-is-on-delivering-for-country-says-harshit-rana-cricket-news-the-times-of-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/06\/not-bothered-by-outside-noise-my-focus-is-on-delivering-for-country-says-harshit-rana-cricket-news-the-times-of-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Not bothered by outside noise, my focus is on delivering for country, says Harshit Rana | Cricket News – The Times of India"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Harshit Rana. (Pic Credit – X)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

NEW DELHI: India\u2019s young pacer Harshit Rana brushed aside external criticism, emphasising that his sole focus is on contributing to the team’s success.
The 23-year-old right-arm quick shone on his ODI debut against England in Nagpur, grabbing 3\/33 to help India secure a four-wicket victory and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
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Having made his T20I debut last week, Rana impressed as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube in Pune, a move that later drew criticism from England. However, the pacer remains undeterred.
“People will always talk. I just want to play, good or bad. I’m not bothered. My only focus is to deliver for my country,” Rana stated in the post-match press conference.<\/p>\n

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‘It\u2019s a slightly two-paced pitch’: Harshit Rana after claiming three-wicket haul on ODI debut<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Rana, who was included as cover for Jasprit Bumrah, revealed that he was mentally prepared for his debut.
“You only get to know if you’re playing when you arrive at the ground. But I always keep myself ready, knowing anything can happen at any time,” he said.
His debut saw highs and lows\u2014he conceded 26 runs in an over, with his KKR teammate Phil Salt smashing three sixes and two fours. However, he staged a stunning comeback, dismissing Ben Duckett and Harry Brook<\/a> in the same over.
“Cricket has ups and downs. I just focused on my length and got my rewards later. I didn\u2019t change anything in my second spell, just hit the right areas,” Rana explained.
Rana acknowledged the challenges of 50-over cricket, particularly the need to adapt across different phases of the game.
“This format is tough because it\u2019s long, and you need to play different roles at different times. But with proper practice, it becomes manageable,” he remarked.<\/p>\n

‘Salt run-out turning point’<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

England got off to a blistering start, thanks to Phil Salt’s aggressive stroke play, but his innings was cut short by a mix-up and a brilliant throw from Shreyas Iyer. England skipper Jos Buttler admitted that Salt\u2019s run-out was the turning point.
“We had momentum at that point, and we needed to sustain the pressure. That\u2019s been our challenge\u2014holding onto momentum when we have it,” Buttler said.
Despite the loss, Buttler praised 21-year-old Jacob Bethell, who scored a gritty half-century.
“I was watching him and thought, ‘I don’t remember batting this well at 21!’ He was mature, composed, and handled pressure well. This experience will be invaluable for him,” he added.
India will look to seal the series when the two teams clash in the second ODI on Sunday.<\/div>\n