IND vs SL: KKR's controversial bowler gets rewarded by Gautam Gambhir with maiden India call-up

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday unveiled the Indian squads for the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka. This marks India's first bilateral series under the newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir. India and Sri Lanka will play three T20Is and as many ODIs starting July 27.  

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Harshit Rana gets maiden India call-up

In a bold and surprising move, the BCCI has announced the inclusion of Harshit Rana in the Indian squad for the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bowler, who made headlines during the IPL 2024 season for his on-field controversies, has been handed his maiden India call-up by newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Harshit Rana’s IPL 2024 season was a mix of impressive performances and contentious incidents. Known for his aggressive bowling style and fiery temperament, Rana often found himself at the center of controversies, including inappropriate exchanges with opponents and disciplinary actions. Despite these incidents, his undeniable talent and match-winning abilities caught the eye of selectors and coach Gautam Gambhir, who was the mentor of KKR during the IPL 2024 season.

Joining a squad led by Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Shubman Gill, Harshit Rana will have the opportunity to showcase his skills and justify the faith shown in him by the coaching staff led by Gautam Gambhir. As India gears up for their first white-ball bilateral series in Sri Lanka since 2021, all eyes will be on Rana to see if he can replicate his IPL success on the international stage and leave his mark as a promising fast bowler.

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India's squads for Sri Lanka series

T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohd. Siraj. 

ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.