“Performing when the entire country is gunning for your head is not easy” – Fans react to Harshit Rana’s fighting 35 in AUS vs IND 2025 2nd T20I

Harshit Rana played a handy knock after being promoted ahead of Shivam Dube in the second T20I between India and Australia in Melbourne on Friday, October 31. The right-handed batter scored a crucial 35 runs off 33 balls with the help of a six and three boundaries.

During his knock, the 23-year-old shared a vital 56-run partnership to help India recover from 49/5. Before this innings, Harshit had batted only once in T20Is, scoring an unbeaten 13 off eight deliveries against Oman in the Asia Cup 2025.

Fans on X lauded Harshit Rana for his fighting knock under pressure in Melbourne. One user wrote:

“Crucial innings for his team.”

Another user commented:

“Harshit Rana is the new Ben Stokes!”

A third user added:

“A very good saving knock. Performing when the entire country is gunning for your head is not easy.”

Here are a few more reactions:

Abhishek Sharma and Harshit Rana stand tall, but Australia dominate India in the 2nd T20I

Abhishek Sharma and Harshit Rana stood tall with the bat after Australia captain Mitchell Marsh invited India to bat first after winning the toss in the second T20I. Apart from Rana, Abhishek 68 runs off 37 deliveries at a strike rate of 183.78, including two sixes and eight fours.

Josh Hazlewood emerged as the leading wicket-taker for the Aussies, finishing with figures of 3/13 in his four overs. The ace pacer dismissed Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav for single-digit scores before removing Tilak Varma for a duck. Nathan Ellis and Xavier Bartlett dismissed Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube, respectively, for single-digit scores. The two bowlers finished with two wickets apiece. The Men in Blue were eventually bundled out for 125 in 18.4 overs.

Other than Rana, the team management also promoted Samson to No. 3, but the wicketkeeper-batter failed to live up to expectations, perishing for just two runs.

The first T20I between the two teams was abandoned due to rain after India faced 9.4 overs. The third T20I is scheduled to take place in Hobart on Sunday, November 2.

Follow the AUS vs IND 2025 2nd T20I live score and updates here.

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Edited by James Kuanal