NEW DELHI: India pacer Harshit Rana has candidly opened up on the mental toll of being dropped from the national squad, especially during long overseas tours. After being initially omitted from India’s squad for the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England, Rana was later added for the first Test but subsequently released ahead of the second match at Edgbaston.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking on Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast, the 23-year-old reflected on the emotional rollercoaster of his early Test journey and the psychological pressure that comes with trying to cement a place in a star-studded side.
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“The series are long, and the tours last for two to three months. Suppose you’re playing the first match and you don’t perform well. You get dropped and have to sit out for the next four matches. At that point, it can get mentally tough,” Rana said.
“Still, you have to put in the hard work and keep training on the ground. But mentally, the thought remains that the start wasn’t great and you wish things had gone differently. That feeling stays with you.”Rana, who featured in two Tests during the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, also emphasised the strength of the dressing room environment.“Everyone is very supportive. They say, ‘No worries, just keep working hard.’ What stays in everyone’s mind is that you are playing for India. What more could you ask for?” he added.On the topic of mental health, Rana acknowledged the challenges but said the love for the game keeps him grounded: “You might feel low… but cricket is in your heart. You can’t stay away from it. Even when things aren’t going your way, you’ll still find yourself on the ground. That’s where you find happiness.”
