“Mar Is Starc Ko” – Harshit Rana Reveals Kohli and KL Rahul’s Hilarious Message During BGT 2024-25
India pacer Harshit Rana recalls his heated exchange with Mitchell Starc during the 2024-25 Test series.
Harshit Rana’s Test debut at Perth wasn’t just about a fiery spell against Australia, but also an intense face-off with Mitchell Starc that left everyone talking, especially when Virat Kohli and KL Rahul joined in from the slip cordon.
The moment unfolded during the first Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Harshit Rana, playing his maiden red-ball match for India, rattled Starc with a barrage of bouncers.
The Aussie pacer, who once shared the KKR dressing room with Rana in the IPL, smirked and responded with a warning: “Harshit, I bowl faster than you. I’ve got a long memory.”
The two traded stares and short balls over successive overs. Eventually, Rana got the better of Starc, dismissing him for 26. But it wasn’t just about the battle between bat and ball. The real drama was happening behind the stumps.
“I bowled a bouncer at him, and one of them hit his helmet. He sledged me, but I laughed it off. While walking back, I thought, ‘mar gaya, ab ye maarega mujhe bouncer,’” Rana said on the BeerBiceps podcast.
“Then Virat bhai and KL bhai started shouting from slip, ‘maarta reh, idhar hi maar isko!’ I was like, ‘Bhaiya aap toh khel loge, mere lagegi sar pe!’” he added.
Rana also revealed that Starc did hit him on the helmet in the second Test.
India went on to win the opening Test in Perth by 295 runs, but couldn’t carry the momentum forward. Australia clinched the series 3-2.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both announced their retirement from the format, with Shubman Gill appointed the new Test captain.
India began the Gill era with a drawn 2-2 series in England.
Harshit was part of the Test squad during the England series but was released after the first match. However, he remains in India’s white-ball plans and was part of the Champions Trophy-winning squad earlier this year.
He is likely to return to the national setup next month when India begin their Asia Cup 2025 campaign.
