India’s rookie player Harshit Rana has opened up on his role after the Men in Blue won the first ODI against New Zealand by four wickets at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara on Sunday. Rana revealed the team wants him to play as an all-rounder at number eight.

Rana returned with figures of 2-65 in the 10 overs he bowled against the Kiwis in the opening ODI at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara on Sunday. The fast bowler from Delhi accounted for New Zealand openers – Henry Nicholls and Devon Conway.

The Blackcaps’ openers had added 117 runs for the opening alliance but Rana was able to provide a double breakthrough after Shubman Gill decided to field first.

Furthermore, Rana was promoted to number seven after Washington Sundar suffered a back injury in the first innings. Rana played a crucial cameo of 29 runs off just 23 balls to help India get close to the target of 301.

Harshit Rana said in the post-match press conference, “The team wants me to bat at No. 8 as an all-rounder. I am trying to work hard on my batting as much as I can in the nets. It was about confidence, which KL bhai [Rahul] gave me out in the middle. I focused on the same and made runs.

“I believe that I can score 30-40 runs batting down the order when the team needs it. The team environment is so good that everybody thinks positive. When the team environment is good, good things happen,” the right-arm pacer went on to add.

Rana also praised India’s greenhorn captain Shubman Gill. Rana said Gill is a free and aggressive skipper.

“For me, he is a free and aggressive captain. If he has to take a decision, he thinks beforehand that he has to do that thing and then he doesn’t stress about it. I personally like that thing, to be a free captain is to give freedom to players to do what they want to do on the field. That is one of the best qualities I like about him.”

The second ODI between India and New Zealand will be played at Rajkot on Wednesday.