Harshit

Rana

Harshit Rana Biography and Career

Harshit Rana is a talented young fast bowler from New Delhi, known for his speed and competitive attitude. Born on December 22, 2001, in Ghevra village near Delhi, the 23-year-old has quickly become a rising star in Indian cricket due to his raw pace and ability to deliver under pressure.

Rana's cricketing journey began at the age of 10 under the guidance of his father, Pradeep Rana, a former hammer thrower and weightlifter. Coach Shravan Kumar at Ganga International School recognised his potential and honed his speed and accuracy. Today, he is known for his aggressive bowling style and ability to clock over 140 kmph.

Rana is one of a few players in India who have made their IPL debut first and later debuted in senior domestic cricket. For this, all credit goes to Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) scouting system. On the advice of Harshit Rana, who also hails from Delhi, KKR brought Harshit on board as a replacement for the injured Rasikh Salam in 2022. In the 2022 season of the Indian Premier League, Harshit gets to play two games from KKR's side. 

His IPL debut came against Delhi Capitals (DC) on April 28, 2022. In his debut match, he claimed Mitchell Marsh’s wicket, signalling his arrival. Later that year, he made his List A and first-class debuts for Delhi, taking 21 wickets in five Ranji Trophy matches.

By June 2023, he was selected for the Duleep Trophy. In that tournament, he proved he could bat well too, scoring 122 runs off just 86 balls (including nine sixes) while batting at No. 9 for North Zone. He also played for India A in the ACC Emerging Men's Cup, where he opened the bowling and took seven wickets in five matches.

The 2024 IPL season was a defining moment in Rana's career. He took 19 wickets in 13 matches, finishing as KKR's second-highest wicket-taker and joint-fourth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. His brilliant performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad, defending 13 runs in the final over, established him as a player to watch out for. KKR retained him for IPL 2025 for Rs 4 crore, which is proof of his growing reputation.

While Rana was at the peak of his bowling performance in IPL 2024, his wicket-taking celebrations got him into trouble. Rana has faced criticism for his 'flying kiss' send-off to SRH's Mayank Agarwal. He was fined for breach of conduct. KKR's Harshit Rana was fined 60% of his match fees for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during the IPL match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2024 season. Not just that, he was also fined 100% of his match fee and suspended for a game, for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during his team's match against Delhi Capitals in the same season. However, such events in his career did not affect his performance and he continued to deliver match-winning performances.

His continued performance at the domestic level and in the IPL soon brought him the opportunity to play for the national team. Rana's debut at the international level came in 2024 in November against Australia when he was selected to play the first Test of the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Perth. On his debut, Rana took 3 wickets in the first inning and 1 wicket in the second inning, in total he took 4 wickets in his first Test match.

In January 2025, he made a unique T20I debut as a concussion substitute against England in Pune, claiming three wickets. His ODI debut followed on February 6, 2025, against England, with figures of 3/53. Remarkably, he became the first Indian to take three wickets on debut in all three formats.

Harshit was also named in India's 15-member squad for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy after Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out before the tournament due to an injury.

Rana's growth has been remarkable. From a raw talent in 2022, he has evolved into a versatile all-format bowler. His ability to adapt across formats - seam movement in Tests, variety in T20s and control in ODIs - marks him out as a rare talent.

Beyond Cricket

Off the field, Harshit Rana leads a relatively private life but is active on Instagram, which has 670,000 followers. He shares glimpses of his training, travel and celebrations, such as celebrating his 23rd birthday on a yacht with teammates, which went viral. His posts, often accompanied by motivational captions, are loved by fans who admire his passion. Rana loves music and fitness, often sharing workout videos. 

Talking about Harshit Rana's net worth, it is estimated to be around Rs 5-10 crore as of January 2025. Rana has earned a salary of Rs 4 crore from his IPL contract with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the 2025 season, a significant increase from his previous salary of Rs 20 lakh. Additionally, he gets a Rs 1 crore annual salary from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as part of his Grade C contract. 

Rana also owns a luxury car, the BMW Series 5, known for its performance and fuel efficiency. While the 23-year-old has no major brand endorsements yet, he is associated with KKR’s merchandise.

Harshit Rana Records:
Harshit Rana Test Records:

• Harshit Rana, on his Test debut in November 2024, against Australia in Perth, took 4 wickets at an average of 50.75. His best figures are 4/101, which came against Australia in 2024.

Harshit Rana ODI Records:

• In ODIs, Rana debuted on February 6, 2025, against England in Nagpur, and took 3 wickets for 53 runs. His best figures of 3/53 became the first Indian to take 3 wickets on ODI debut.

Harshit Rana T20I Records:

• Rana, on his T20I debut in January 2025, against England, claimed 3 wickets for 33 runs.

Harshit Rana IPL Records:

• In IPL 2024, he took 19 wickets in 13 matches, finishing as the joint-fourth-highest wicket-taker and helping KKR win the title.
• He was also the second-highest wicket-taker for Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2024 IPL season.
• He holds the record for the most wickets by an uncapped bowler in a single IPL season, with 19 wickets in 2024.

Harshit Rana Other Formats:

• In first-class cricket, including Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy, he has taken 47 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of 4.06, with best figures of 7 wickets in an inning.
• He scored an unbeaten 122 off 86 balls in the 2023 Duleep Trophy, showcasing his batting ability.
• In List A cricket, including the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Rana has taken 32 wickets in 19 matches.
• For India A in the 2023 ACC Emerging Men’s Cup, he claimed 7 wickets in 5 matches.