India’s young fast-bowling prodigy Harshit Rana produced a stunning performance in the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), finishing with a career-best 4/39 as India bowled out the hosts for 236 in 46.4 overs. The 22-year-old pacer delivered a spell full of aggression, precision, and control, capping it off by shattering Josh Hazlewood’s stumps to end the Australian innings in emphatic fashion. Rana’s fiery burst not only sealed Australia’s downfall but also highlighted India’s emerging pace depth on foreign soil.
Harshit Rana ends Australia’s innings with an absolute cracker
Australia’s lower order had little answer to Rana’s pace in the death overs. Bowling with relentless intent, he produced a cross-seam delivery that nipped back sharply and beat Josh Hazlewood all ends up, sending the middle stump flying. The SCG crowd erupted in appreciation, while Indian players mobbed the young bowler in celebration. It was a fitting end to a remarkable spell that showcased both maturity and raw pace.
Rana’s figures of 4 for 39 in 8.4 overs placed him among the best Indian performances at the SCG, joining the ranks of greats such as Javagal Srinath and Madan Lal, who have also excelled on Australian turf. His wicket-taking spree began earlier in the innings when he dismissed Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey and Mitchell Owen, each time breaking partnerships that could have taken the game away from India.
Here’s the video:
CLUTCH! ⭐⭐⭐⭐#HarshitRana bags his maiden 4-wicket haul in international cricket as #TeamIndia bowl out Australia in Sydney 👏#AUSvIND 👉 3rd ODI | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/0evPIuANAu pic.twitter.com/JXFhwCDgzX
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 25, 2025
Australia’s bright start fades against India’s disciplined bowling
Australia began on a steady note after opting to bat, with Matt Renshaw (56 off 67) and Travis Head (29 off 38) putting on a promising start. The duo added 61 runs before Mohammed Siraj drew the first breakthrough, removing Head with a well-directed short ball. Alex Carey (24) and Cooper Connolly (22) then tried to rebuild, but India’s spinners – Axar Patel and Washington Sundar – kept a tight lid on the scoring rate.
As the innings entered its middle phase, Rana was reintroduced and made an immediate impact. His sharp bouncer accounted for Connolly, while a blistering back-of-length delivery forced Carey into a mistimed cut, resulting in a stunning diving catch by Shreyas Iyer at backward point. With wickets tumbling at regular intervals, Australia lost momentum and never recovered from India’s disciplined bowling attack.
Rana’s rise highlights India’s fast-bowling depth
Rana’s performance was a reflection of India’s growing confidence in their next generation of pacers. The young seamer consistently clocked speeds above 140 km/h, mixing short-pitched deliveries with late seam movement to trouble Australia’s batters throughout. His control at the death overs -traditionally a pressure phase – was particularly impressive, as he outfoxed tail-enders with clever variations.
Former Australian cricketers lauded Rana’s spell on air, calling it a “coming-of-age performance” for the Delhi-born pacer. With India’s bowling lineup already boasting names like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh, Rana’s rise offers yet another exciting option ahead of the team’s upcoming international fixtures.
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