'Ek Flying Kiss Ho Jaye': Harshit Rana Trolled by Nitish Rana After IPL 2024 Suspension

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have become a team to beat in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. With 7 wins in 10 matches, the Shreyas Iyer-led side is comfortably placed second on the points table and eyes a playoff qualification. While the team enduring a superb run, its pacer, Harshit Rana has repeatedly been finding himself in hot waters.

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The right-arm quick from Delhi has breached the IPL Code of Conduct twice this season. In fact, he was recently slapped with a hefty fine – 100% of his match fees – and also got suspended for one game.

The KKR will play their next game in Lucknow on Sunday and ahead of the highly-electrifying clash between the table toppers, former captain Nitish Rana took a cheeky dig at the young bowler while the team was on its way to its next destination.

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On the flight, Nitish asked the cameraperson to focus on Harshit, asking what the youngster was doing. The latter replied that he was listening to Punjabi music and also said the team environment is pretty chill, especially after accumulating 14 points in the season.

On that note, Nitish asked Harshit, “Ek flying kiss ho jaye fir… (How about a flying kiss, then?).” The bowler was amused and quickly said no to it.

Watch the hilarious banter

Harshit committed the first offence in KKR’s campaign opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 23. Though the bowler played a crucial role in his team’s win but gave a departing Mayank Agarwal a stare and a flying kiss.

As per the IPL rulebook, Harshit committed ‘two Level 1 offences under Article 2.5 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct’ and was fined 10 per cent and 50 percent of his match fees for the two respective offences.

On Tuesday, April 30, he was found guilty once again and faced a punishment which was stricter than before. He 100 per cent of his match fees and was suspended for one match for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct.

Playing against Delhi Capitals, Harshit cleaned up Abhishek Porel and proceeded to almost offer another flying-kiss send-off but gestured his hand towards the dugout. As a result, he was benched for the game against Mumbai Indians which the KKR won by 24 runs.

“Rana committed a Level 1 offence under Article 2.5 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct. He admitted to the offence and accepted the Match Referee’s sanction. For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee’s decision is final and binding,” IPL said in a statement.

“The player was earlier penalised under the same level and article of the IPL Code of Conduct,” the statement added.