Indian fast bowler Harshit Rana garnered significant attention for his blunt response to a reporter during the post-match press conference after India's four-wicket victory against New Zealand in the first One Day International. The match, held in Vadodara on January 11, 2026, saw India successfully chase down a target of 301 runs. During the press interaction, a journalist questioned India's perceived struggle to take early wickets with the new ball, particularly in the absence of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Rana, visibly displeased by the insinuation, retorted with "I don't know which cricket you've seen". He strongly defended the Indian bowling unit, emphasizing that despite not always securing early wickets, they had successfully restricted the opposition's scoring, with Mohammed Siraj bowling particularly well. Rana explained that the team's strategy often involved building pressure and taking wickets in the middle overs if not with the new ball, highlighting the different phases of an ODI game. Rana himself had a stellar all-round performance in the match, picking up two crucial wickets, including those of New Zealand openers Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls, and contributing a vital 29 runs off just 23 balls with the bat. He also used the platform to reveal that the Indian team management is actively working to groom him as an all-rounder, encouraging him to improve his batting skills to potentially bat at number eight in the future. This incident and Rana's performance have further solidified his growing stature in Indian cricket, amidst discussions about developing multi-dimensional players. The news was widely reported on January 12, 2026, across major sports news platforms.