Harshit Rana to Bat Above Shivam Dube in India's T20I Opener
Gautam Gambhir shuffles batting order, promoting the bowler to No.6 against England.
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir has reshuffled the batting order for the first T20I against England, promoting Harshit Rana to No.6 ahead of Shivam Dube. The move comes as India aim to bounce back from a series loss to Ireland, with the team sheet showing Rana—primarily a bowler—slotting in at a higher position than usual.
Rana, who missed action for two months due to a knee injury, impressed on return against Ireland. He took four wickets in two matches and contributed 29 runs, including a quickfire 21 off 10 balls in a narrow one-run defeat. Gambhir is likely banking on Rana's ability to attack from the get-go, giving him license to go after the bowling.
Shivam Dube, meanwhile, struggled in the Ireland series, managing only 45 runs in two innings despite getting starts. His demotion suggests the team management wants to maximize Rana's recent form while giving Dube time to rediscover his touch. India also made two other changes, dropping Prince Yadav and Suryansh Shedge from the XI.