IPL 2024: Mitchell Starc praises uncapped Indian pacer Harshit Rana

Harshit Rana (Pic: File Pic)

Following Kolkata Knight Riders' win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the finals of the IPL 2024, lead pacer Mitchell Starc praised Indian speedster Harshit Rana for his outstanding performance in the recently concluded Indian league.

Indian pacer Harshit was the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the IPL 2024. Featuring 13 matches, he bagged 19 wickets with an economy of 9.08. Despite having an upset start in the IPL 2024, Starc proved his worth for Kolkata later in the league. In the playoffs, when the team needed him the most, Starc delivered by registering three wickets in the qualifier one against SRH.

Starc said Harshit had some good matches in this season and bowled in tough situations.

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"We had a hugely talented bowling group this season with youngsters like Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, and Chetan Sakariya. Harshit had some good matches this season and has bowled in tough situations. He's only gonna improve from a season he had," Starc said in the post-match press conference.

The Australian cricketer further stated that throughout this IPL 2024, the right-arm pacer has learned what his skills are capable of.

"Harshit is learning what his skills are capable of throughout this IPL. He seems pretty confident in his abilities. He started his season with the second-best team in this season (SRH). The right-arm seamer has bowled some tough overs and also crucial last overs and has taken a good amount of wickets this season as well," the left-arm pacer asserted

In the end, Starc concluded by speaking on the Chennai pitch. He said there was a bit of swing at the start for both sides.

"The Chennai pitch was quite different as compared to other grounds in IPL 2024. There was a bit of swing for both sides at the start. There was less turn as compared to the game between SRH-RR in the Qualifier 2. We bowled fantastically well to keep the SRH side below 120," the 34-year-old player concluded.

(With ANI Inputs)