India’s ODI series loss to New Zealand will not be viewed kindly, especially given the manner in which the hosts once again saw their home fortress breached by the Blackcaps. While there were positives in the form of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul—reinforcing Rahul’s status as India’s best utility player at the moment—there was another name that stood out for all the right reasons.

Since making his India debut in 2024, opinion around Harshit has been divided. Many questioned his place in the squad, with some criticising Gautam Gambhir for alleged favouritism towards the Delhi pacer, with whom he had worked at KKR in 2024. Even then, Harshit was repeatedly handed tough roles with the ball, while his batting remained largely unnoticed.

Gambhir did use him at No.7 during the second T20I against Australia last year, and it wasn’t as if the 24-year-old was thrown into the deep end without preparation. While there were no flashy strokes, Harshit produced a composed 35 off 33 balls, with his primary task being to support Abhishek Sharma.

A similar role awaited him in the first ODI, where he was expected to support KL Rahul during the chase. Any boundaries along the way would have been a bonus. Instead of staying in his shell, Harshit backed his instincts, played his shots, and made a meaningful contribution that helped India clinch the game.

By the third ODI, India appeared dead and buried despite Virat Kohli still at the crease. Ravindra Jadeja had just departed, and Harshit walked in with over 150 runs still required. While Kohli was seen as the saviour, the moment demanded a reliable sidekick—and Harshit filled that role perfectly.

He scored his maiden ODI fifty off just 41 balls, striking four boundaries and four sixes. What stood out was not blind slogging but the trust he placed in his power, confidently taking on bowlers, including the intimidating Kyle Jamieson.

Beyond the big hits, Harshit showed maturity—pushing hard for singles and doubles alongside the ever-fit Kohli. The duo added 99 runs off just 69 balls, keeping India in the contest far longer than expected. Shubman Gill later praised the pacer’s batting growth and highlighted his importance lower down the order.

"I think he is someone who is really improving his batting. The position he bats at — number eight — is a very important one for us. You see other teams around the world bat really deep. They often play with five specialist batters and then a couple of all-rounders. So it’s important to give opportunities to players who can bat. I’m very happy with how he is growing and contributing to the team," said Gill at the press conference.

Up for the task
While No.8 currently suits him, there is a strong case for Harshit being tried at No.7—a position that demands greater batting skill. Encouragingly, the pacer has already put his hand up for that all-rounder’s role going forward, and his numbers back the ambition.

In 14 first-class matches, Harshit has scored 499 runs at an average of 31.18, including a century. His ODI numbers so far read:

Matches: 14
Runs: 124
Average: 24.8
Strike rate: 121.56

One of the most striking aspects of his batting was how unfazed he looked against short-pitched bowling, even when he failed to connect—something Sunil Gavaskar was quick to point out.

"Very, very good innings. He batted just like a lower-order batter bats, without any worry. There were no expectations from him. His job was to swing his bat. If he connected, great. When the short ball was bowled, he was trying to slice it up. He wasn't able to get it, and that didn't frustrate him because he recognised that look, if you pitch it up, I'm going to hammer it, or if you pitch it halfway down where the ball is coming here, I'm going to hit you for six, and that's exactly what he did. And that was the impressive part for me, that he did not look hassled by the fact that he hadn't really got any of those runs," said Gavaskar.

Harshit at No.7 could solve multiple issues.
With Hardik Pandya certain to occupy the No.6 slot when fit, India’s bigger concern lies at No.7. Ravindra Jadeja’s influence appears to be waning, while Nitish Kumar Reddy is still not viewed as ready. Slotting Harshit in at No.7 could open the door for greater flexibility in team selection.

This could allow India to bring in either a specialist bowler or another all-rounder. Given Jadeja’s struggles—both in terms of wickets and economy—India may also consider alternatives in the spin department.

Someone like Harsh Dubey could be tried at No.8, while Varun Chakravarthy could be brought back to support Kuldeep Yadav. Such combinations could help address multiple balance issues on the side.

Not a finished article yet
Despite his impressive batting displays, Harshit remains a work in progress—particularly with the ball. During the third ODI, there were phases where he lacked penetration and leaked runs in the middle overs.

India will be mindful of past examples like Irfan Pathan, whose growing batting responsibilities eventually impacted his bowling. Simon Doull echoed similar caution, while praising Harshit’s competitive edge.

"He strikes me as a guy who wants to be in the contest. The mild-mannered players come from the south of India, and the ones twhowant to be in the fight come a bit further north. When you go to Delhi or even to Punjab, they're up for it."

"They wanna be involved, and Harshit Rana is one of those sorts of guys. He was an equal in that partnership as far as run scoring was concerned. So Indian finding a player. My worry for Harship would be from a bowling point of view. The second spell and third spell, coming back with the same vigour that he had in spell number 1. So if they can work through that, that's, he's still in his infancy as far as international cricket is concerned. Work on that fitness because they're developing a real power hitter at number 8 or 9, in an ODI game and a T20 contest, he could be just as valuable," said Doull.

If Harshit can continue refining his batting without letting his bowling suffer, India may well have a genuine long-term solution at No.7—one capable of tilting games with both bat and ball.