[WATCH] Harshit Rana comments on how Gautam Gambhir changed KKR during IPL 2024

Harshit Rana, the right-arm fast bowler, who played with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) under the mentorship of Gautam Gambhir, has a huge admiration for the current Indian head coach, who helped them lift their third title of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2024. Rana comments on Gambhir’s mental toughness.

The Delhi-born addressed how the former India opening batter had his eyes focused on the IPL trophy of the season, besides putting the glue in their team bonding every time. He also shed light on the backing he displayed behind them as a team, irrespective of domestic, national, or foreign players.

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“Not like that intense, but he is focused. If he has decided to do something, then he will not let anything come around that. That’s the thing with him. I never had jokes with him, but the best thing about KKR that season was the bonding. He kept us together. His backing and mental toughness him was incredible.” Rana addressed during a recent podcast with Beer Biceps.

Watch: Harshit Rana comments on how Gautam Gambhir changed KKR during IPL 2024

Rana was excellent in that season with the ball, finishing as the fifth leading wicket-taker with 19 scalps in 11 innings at an average of 20.15 and an economy rate of 9.08, thanks to the best bowling figure of 3/24 in an innings. Varun Chakravarthy of KKR ended as the second-highest wicket-taker with 21 scalps at 19.14.

“From the very first day, he always used to tell us that we should keep our focus on the 26th because we had to lift the trophy on that evening. The very first day when he came to the dressing room, he said that we should keep an eye on the 26th and see ourselves lifting the trophy on that day. Every day, that was the discussion, whether you lose or win, it doesn’t matter.” The Knight Riders’ bowler revealed.

Later, the 23-year-old went on to make his debut in the longest format during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, besides playing six white-ball games for the Blue Brigade. He will look to work on his fitness and performance to get back into the national side.