Harshit Rana continued his remarkable dominance over Devon Conway on the New Zealand tour of India, delivering yet another decisive blow in the second T20I to tilt momentum firmly India’s way. The young pacer, who has made a habit of troubling the left-hander across formats, once again proved to be Conway’s nemesis on this tour.
Harshit Rana strikes again in Raipur
India turned to Harshit Rana at a crucial moment in Raipur with New Zealand racing at 43 without loss after three overs. Devon Conway was in fluent touch, having already smashed 19 runs off just seven deliveries, and looked set to dictate the powerplay.
Rana made an immediate impact. His very first ball was a testing delivery that beat Conway outside off stump, a clear warning shot. On the second ball, Rana rolled his fingers to deliver a well-disguised slower one. Conway, deceived by the lack of pace, pushed early and lofted the ball straight to mid-off, where Hardik Pandya completed a calm catch. The wicket halted New Zealand’s charge instantly.
A wicket-maiden that shifted momentum
The dismissal proved pivotal. Rana went on to bowl a wicket-maiden over, dragging New Zealand’s score from 43 for 0 after three overs to 43 for 1 at the end of the fourth. It was exactly the breakthrough India needed, breaking the opening stand and forcing the visitors to reset their approach.
In a format where powerplay momentum often defines the innings, Rana’s over brought control back to India and showcased his growing ability to deliver under pressure.
A rivalry defined by repeated breakthroughs
Conway’s dismissal in the second T20I marked the fourth time Rana has removed him on this tour. The pattern began in the ODI series, where Rana dismissed Conway in all three matches, consistently finding ways to expose him with pace, bounce and subtle variations. Although Rana did not feature in the first T20I, his return in the second game ensured the rivalry resumed immediately.
Across formats, the contest has followed a familiar script. Conway has often looked comfortable initially, only for Rana to intervene with a delivery that forces a mistake. The contrast between Conway’s aggressive intent and Rana’s disciplined execution has become a recurring storyline of the tour.
Why this matchup has mattered for India
Conway has been one of New Zealand’s most reliable top-order batters, particularly in Indian conditions. Rana’s repeated success against him has therefore carried added significance. By removing Conway early, India have repeatedly disrupted New Zealand’s plans and exposed the middle order sooner than intended.
For Rana, this series has been a statement of intent. Dismissing the same high-quality batter four times across formats highlights not just planning, but the ability to adapt and execute consistently.
A breakthrough that underlined Rana’s rise
Conway's wicket in Raipur summed up Rana’s impact in this series. He did not rely on raw pace alone, instead mixing seam movement with clever changes of speed. For a young pacer still establishing himself at international level, such moments build credibility and trust within the team setup.
He has also made some valuable contributions with the bat in the series & has emerged as the pace bowling all-rounder India were desperately looking for!
