Kamran Akmal backs Harshit Rana to break into India’s Champions Trophy squad if Jasprit Bumrah fails to recover

Former Pakistan wicket-keeper bat Kamran Akmal has backed Harshit Rana’s selection in India’s Champions Trophy squad if Jasprit Bumrah fails to recover in time. Bumrah had suffered a back injury in the fifth Test match against Australia and he is in race against time to get fit for the marquee event.

Meanwhile, Harshit Rana impressed one and all with his T20I debut as he returned with impressive figures of 3-33 in his quota of four overs against England in the fourth T20I at Pune on Friday. Rana accounted for Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, and Jamie Overton in his fine spell.

The fast bowler replaced Shivam Dube in the playing XI as a concussion sub after the latter was hit on the helmet in the first innings by Jamie Overton.

Kamran Akmal said on his YouTube Channel, “The way Harshit Rana bowled, if Bumrah is not there, he’ll surely come in the Champions Trophy. The way he bowled pace, took three wickets.”

Meanwhile, Rana bagged four wickets on his Test debut against Australia at the Optus Stadium, Perth in 2024 but went wicketless in the second game at Adelaide. But he is yet to make his ODI debut for the national team.

On the other hand, Akmal feels the presence of Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi would have added potency to India’s Champions Trophy squad. India has picked Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav as the four spinners for the marquee tournament.

He added, “The way Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakaravarthy are bowling in T20Is, if they were part of the Champions Trophy, India’s spin department would’ve been stronger.”

Meanwhile, Bishnoi returned with impressive figures of 3-28 in the penultimate match of the series as he accounted for Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler, and Jofra Archer. Akmal lauded the leg-spinner for his fine spell against the Three Lions.

“Duckett got out to Bishnoi. He wasn’t getting wickets but bowling well [in the previous games]. He was hit in the last game but took three wickets today, good bowling.”

The fifth and final T20I of the series will be played at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday.