Mayank Yadav and Harshit Rana: West Delhi’s Speed Duo

In West Delhi, international cricketers are common. Just shake a tree, and you’re likely to find an Indian cricketer. Notable players from this area include Virat Kohli, current Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir, Ishant Sharma, Virender Sehwag, and Ashish Nehra.

On Sunday, two 22-year-olds from West Delhi, Mayank Yadav and Harshit Rana, are set to make their international debuts in the first T20I match against Bangladesh in Gwalior. Mayank, a fast bowler, hails from Motinagar, just a few kilometers from Virat Kohli’s hometown. Harshit has lived his entire life in Village Ghevra, near Najafgarh, which is also the hometown of Virender Sehwag.

Mayank has quickly moved up to the senior team after recovering from an injury, while Harshit was part of the Indian squad that won the five-match T20I series in Zimbabwe last July. On Sunday, Mayank is poised to make his debut, while Rana will need to compete with spinners Washington Sundar and Varun Chakravarthy for a place in the playing XI.

During two intense net sessions at the newly constructed Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, both Delhi players bowled with impressive speed. Their friendship was clear as they laughed together and provided feedback to each other after each delivery, causing difficulties for the batters with their raw pace.

In addition to both hailing from West Delhi, the two share a striking resemblance in their careers so far. They played together for Delhi’s U-19 team, but both have faced challenges along the way. Each grew up hearing stories of fast bowling from their fathers and gained recognition in the IPL. Mayank bowled just 12.1 overs in the tournament but consistently hit speeds of 150 kph whenever he played. Meanwhile, Harshit took 19 wickets and was a key player in KKR’s title victory.

While taking Mayank to the Sonnet Cricket Club, his father, Prabhu Yadav, a fan of West Indian pace legend Curtly Ambrose, inspired him with his passion for fast bowling. Meanwhile, Harshit’s father, Pradeep Rana, an athlete who represented the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in hammer throw and weightlifting, often recounted how batters around the world feared the speed of Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar.

“While facing selection hurdles in the age group, Harshit used to get dejected. The only advice I gave him was ‘Tu batsmen ko dara apni bowling se fir dekh kaise nahi lete tujhe (When you bowl, batters must fear you, and then you see how the selectors won’t be able to ignore you,” Pradip Rana tells The Indian Express.

Mayank Yadav and Harshit Rana: West Delhi’s Dynamic Speed Duo on the Rise

For the past four months, Yadav Sr. has had just one worry: whether his son would regain his speed after the injury.

“Every day after returning from my factory in Okhla, I used to think about it. Bowling fast gives him that X factor. When he showed his videos at the NCA, I was relieved. Fast bowlers make this game thrilling,” shares Parbhu Yadav.

Narender Negi, who has coached both Mayank and Harshit for years, describes them as “ek sikke ke do pehlu” (two sides of the same coin).

“I would say they both are special. They are raw; they are rookie, but they are Rolls-Royce and Ferrari; you can’t keep them in the garage. I have a feeling that Gauti will unleash them in Gwalior,” says Negi.

Mayank Yadav’s bowling is characterized by speed and accuracy, while Harshit excels at delivering in high-pressure situations. This was evident when KKR’s management, despite having Mitchell Starc on their roster, chose to entrust the crucial overs to the young bowler.

“It is all about mentality; they are tough blokes. The change that I can see in both of them is now they have become more disciplined and their work ethics has improved. Maybe they have realized their potential,” says Negi.

“If Mayank plays, I want his pace and would want the management to give him a couple of series to settle down his nerves. He is someone who needs an arm on his shoulder. Emotional ladka hai (He is an emotional type).

“For Harshit, again, I would love to see his pace. He is deceptive, hits the handle of the bat, and I want to see the slower one that he has developed. I won’t be worried about Harshit because his confidence is very high. He wants to be at the center of the action. Sometimes, you need an arm around him to calm him down,” laughs Negi.

In addition to intimidating batters with their pace and bounce, the two also share a passion for speed.

Mayank expressed, “General life mey bhi mujhe speed pasand hai (I am fascinated with speed in life in general). I love rockets, jets, and superbikes. Speed gives me a thrill.” He shared this after his impressive performance against Punjab Kings, where he achieved figures of 3/27, including a delivery at 155.8 kph.

Harshit Rana expressed a similar passion in an interview after the IPL, saying, “I love supercars. There is something about the speed that gives me an adrenaline rush.”

It remains to be seen if they will make their debuts in Gwalior, but broadcasters will be eager to feature both for their ratings.

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