‘It seemed like there was outside support’ - Aakash Chopra reflects on Harshit Rana’s potential inclusion in third NZ Test

Team India is all set to take on New Zealand in the third and final Test of their ongoing series. Both sides locked horns in the first two Tests in Bengaluru and Pune, respectively, and after a dominant performance by the visitors, New Zealand managed to topple India and clinch the series. 

The third Test of the series will be held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Both will face off from November 1 as New Zealand looks to go for a whitewash and India strives to avoid further losses. 

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Ahead of the third Test, there have been many discussions over the potential lineup of the hosts for the Mumbai Test, and former India cricketer Aakash Chopra recently came forward and talked about the potential inclusion of Harshit Rana in the playing XI. 

"Harshit Rana is in the Test team. It's interesting. It's a young first-class career but he is being invested in. Gautam Gambhir's new management is investing in him. However, it seemed like there was outside support thus far, just like a coalition government, where you are with them but are still not there," Aakash Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.

"You went to Zimbabwe, then Sri Lanka, and after that, you were a part of the squad in the home series, but you didn't get a chance to play. However, you have been selected for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as well. If you see his first-class career, he has played 10 matches in total but he took five wickets in the last match and scored a fifty as well. So he can bowl and bat," Chopra added.

Potentially making his debut in the next game, Harshit Rana will be keen on putting in a good performance and leaving a good impression on the board, ensuring his place in the side.