'People will always talk' - Debutant Harshit Rana slams trollers after making dream debut against England

Harshit Rana received his ODI cap from Mohammed Shami before the start of the first ODI game against England and gave a stellar performance. The 23-year-old player claimed three wickets in seven overs, making it a dream debut. He gave India an important breakthrough that they needed at that time to make a comeback in the game, as the openers were going after the bowlers. He was also hit for 26 runs in an over but still managed to stage a perfect comeback by the end of the game. 

In the press conference, he spoke about his urge to play for the country. He also made it clear that people's opinions don't matter to him as long as he's representing India. Rana's confidence has soared after the first game, and he hopes to continue his performance in the upcoming matches. 

"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. 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," said Harshit Rana in the presser. 

Cricket has it's ups and downs: Harshit Rana

The debutant dismissed Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, and Liam Livingstone in the first game, setting the stage for the rest of the series. At the presser, he also highlighted the fact that the format is long and the players have to keep up with their line and length to take wickets consistently. If he manages to perform in the series, his chances of playing in the Champions Trophy will also increase. 

"Cricket has ups and downs. I just focused on my length and got my rewards later. I didn’t change anything in my second spell, just hit the right areas. This format is tough because it’s long, and you need to play different roles at different times. But with proper practice, it becomes manageable," added Rana.