Pace bowler Harshit Rana will be released by India to play for Delhi in the team’s upcoming Ranji Trophy games, according to reports. Originally a traveling reserve with the Indian Test team hosting New Zealand in a three-match series, Harshit Rana is reportedly set to leave the national set-up to help Delhi in their Ranji Trophy match against Assam. After the lack of Navdeep SainiThe Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) has requested Harshit’s services.

Saini was named in the India A squad that toured Australia, making him unavailable for Delhi’s next Ranji match. As Harshit Rana does not play the second Test against New Zealand, he will get to represent Delhi in the Ranji Trophy, reports Times of India. Delhi will face Assam at the Arun Jaitley Stadium from Saturday, October 26.

Harshit joins Nitish Kumar Reddy as traveling reserves released by India to play for their Ranji side. Reddy was released to play for Andhra against Gujarat. Harshit has previously played nine first-class matches and picked up 36 wickets. He has even scored a century with the bat.

Harshit has been a regular part of the India set-up in all three formats after the arrival of Gautam Gambhir as head coach, who also mentored him at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during IPL 2024. However, he is set to make his debut in any format for India.

As this confirms that Rana will not make his debut for India before October 31, it gives Kolkata Knight Riders the option to retain him as an uncapped player ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. An uncapped player can be retained for as little as Rs 4 crore.

Rana was a crucial cog for KKR as they lifted the IPL title for the third time in 2024. He took 19 wickets and finished among the top five wicket takers.