"Keep trolling if you want" - Aakash Chopra lauds Harshit Rana's spell in IND vs SA 2025 3rd T20I

Former India player Aakash Chopra has lauded Harshit Rana for bowling an impressive spell in the third T20I against South Africa. The analyst urged trolls to praise the seamer when he performs well.

Harshit registered figures of 2/34 in four overs as India bundled South Africa out for 117 in the third T20I in Dharamsala on Sunday, December 14. The hosts then achieved the target with seven wickets and 4.1 overs to spare to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener noted that Harshit deserves praise for performing well despite getting limited opportunities.

"We should talk about Harshit Rana and praise him. Keep trolling if you want, but praise the kid when he is doing well. He gets limited opportunities. It's not like he gets a chance to play every day, but he does well when he gets an opportunity," Chopra said. (7:55)

While acknowledging that Harshit isn't a finished product yet, Chopra added that the right-arm seamer should be allowed to become one.

"He did well here as well. He picked up two wickets in two overs, and he is bowling close to 140-145 kph. Of course, he is not a finished product yet, but give him a chance to become that. You are trying to finish him. So don't do like that. He has done well," he observed.

Harshit Rana trapped Quinton de Kock (1 off 3) lbw with his second delivery. He then bowled Dewald Brevis (2 off 7) off the inside edge with the first ball of his second over.

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"He was bowling 143-145 kph" - Suresh Raina lauds Harshit Rana's spell in IND vs SA 2025 3rd T20I

Harshit Rana has picked up seven wickets at an economy rate of 10.17 in five T20I innings. [P/C: Getty]

Speaking on Star Sports, former India all-rounder Suresh Raina praised Harshit Rana for bowling at a brisk pace along with variations.

"He looked in good rhythm. He came around the wicket immediately from the first over itself. He picked up a wicket in the second over and then bowled Brevis. The thing I liked the most was that he was bowling at a very good pace. He was bowling 143-145 kph, and was also changing his pace well in between," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the 23-year-old has invariably done well whenever he has been given a chance.

"He performs well whenever he gets a chance. We don't know whether he will play or not when (Jasprit) Bumrah comes. He was doing well even when Hardik Pandya was injured. He has always done well whenever he has come in as a replacement. The body language looked good and he was releasing the ball well," Raina observed.

Harshit Rana was included in India's playing XI for the third T20I against South Africa due to Jasprit Bumrah's unavailability. It remains to be seen if the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) seamer retains his place in the XI if Bumrah is available for the fourth T20I in Lucknow on December 17.