‘Never really about economy…’ - Former India batter heaps praises on Harshit Rana after 1st ODI

Young India pacer Harshit Rana made his ODI debut in the first ODI against England on Thursday. The young lad bowled some brilliant deliveries, leaving his mark at the highest level of the game. He ended up scalping 3 wickets at 53 overs in his seven-over stint in the first innings.

Besides taking 3 wickets, Rana went quite expensive with the ball as he conceded the runs with an economy rate of more than 7 runs per over. But still, a lot of cricket experts were left impressed with the way he made a comeback in the game by picking some crucial wickets.

In the same line of events, Former India batter and now the commentator, Sanjay Manjrekar came up with the praising remarks for the 24-year old. Manjrekar looked quite impressed with Rana’s approach even getting smashed for some runs by English batters in the initial half of the first innings.

It’s never really about economy - Sanjay Manjrekar 

Manjrekar took to his official X handle (formerly Twitter) to praise Harshit. He felt that the wickets scalped by the young debutant were quite crucial in winning the game for India

“It’s 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,” wrote Manjrekar in his X post. 

Here’s a look at Sanjay Manjrekar’s post for Harshit Rana

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. #INDvsENG

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 7, 2025

Speaking of the action of the game in the first ODI between India and England, the hosts bundled out Jos Buttler’s men at the score of 248 runs in 47.4 overs. Star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and debutant Harshit Rana claimed 3 wickets each, alongside Mohammed Shami, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav claiming a wicket each.

While chasing the target, the men in blue comfortably crossed the line in 38.4 overs, scoring 251 runs for the loss of 6 wickets and won the game by 4 wickets. Vice captain Shubman Gill played a decisive knock of 87 runs to lead the run chase for India.

Apart from Gill, star number four batter Shreyas Iyer and all-rounder Axar Patel also played the crucial knocks of 59 and 52 runs, respectively.

With this win in the ODI series opener, the hosts India have taken a lead of 1-0 in the three-match series against the tourists.