A light-hearted dressing-room moment after Champions Trophy 2025
India fast bowler Harshit Rana has shared a fun behind-the-scenes moment involving Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma after India lifted the Champions Trophy in 2025. Rana, who was in the squad but not in the playing XI for the final, said the exchange happened immediately after the title was secured, inside the team dressing room.
Meeting Anushka for the first time
Rana recalled that when he first met Anushka Sharma he wasn’t sure how to address her, so he used a formal greeting. Kohli immediately turned the situation into a joke to cut the formality:
“I entered the dressing room, and Anushka Sharma was also there. I was meeting her for the first time. So I called her ‘ma’am’. Then he told me, ‘tu ma’am kyu bol raha hai inko? Bhabhi bol inko’ (Why are you calling her ma’am? Call her bhabhi).”
Rana added that Kohli went on to explain the moment playfully to Anushka, even reminding her about the champagne celebration earlier that evening: “I told him that I am meeting her for the first time. Then he told her that I am like that, and just some time ago I poured champagne on him, and I am calling you ma’am now.”
Seeing a different side of Kohli
The anecdote offers a glimpse of Kohli’s off-field personality — relaxed and jokey around younger teammates. Rana summed it up simply: “A lot, he likes jokes a lot,” underlining how Kohli can switch from intense competitor on the field to an easy-going senior teammate off it.
Who inspired Harshit Rana?
Rana also spoke about the players who influenced his outlook as he climbed the ranks. He said that in his early years he played more than he watched cricket on TV, but when he started to watch, one player stood out: Hardik Pandya.
“At the beginning, I didn’t watch much cricket on TV (as) I was more interested in playing. But when I started watching, Hardik Pandya had just begun his career, and I’ve always looked up to him.”
Rana made clear that it’s Pandya’s mindset he admires most — the confidence and emotional steadiness. “He’s never bothered by anything – good or bad. Whether people praise him or criticise him, it doesn’t affect him. He knows he’s the best, and that’s it. He has a strong mindset and is the same on and off the field. He does what he wants,” Rana said.
Fast rise and what’s next
The 24-year-old seamer has made rapid progress since his international debut on the 2024–25 tour of Australia. Rana has represented India in Tests, ODIs and T20Is and has been a consistent wicket-taker across formats.
His recent form earned him a place in India’s 15-man squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which begins on February 7. Rana is expected to join a pace group that features Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya — teammates he once watched from afar and now shares the dressing room with.
What to expect
- Rana’s blend of raw pace and composure will be tested on the world stage.
- Pairing him alongside experienced bowlers gives India depth and variety in pace options.
- Off-field moments like the dressing-room anecdote show the team balance — intensity on the field, camaraderie behind it.
As Rana continues to grow, fans will watch both his performances and the way he absorbs lessons from established stars — on and off the field.