Pacer Harshit Rana has been ruled out of India’s squad for the upcoming T20Is against Afghanistan and the Asian Games 2026. He sustained a rectus femoris strain while bowling during a match simulation on September 7 and has subsequently been ruled out.
The pacer was progressing well during his rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), according to a release by the BCCI. He has now been replaced by young pacer Yash Thakur , who has already played two matches for India.
However, Thakur was among the bowlers dropped for the Afghanistan series, as India named a full-strength side for the three contests to be played in New Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17. He sustained a knee injury ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 and missed the global showpiece, which India won. He underwent knee surgery, missed the IPL 2026, and made a comeback in June.
India’s updated squad for Afghanistan T20Is: Shreyas Iyer [C], Abhishek Sharma , Vaibhav Sooryavanshi , Sanju Samson [WK], Ishan Kishan [WK], Tilak Varma [VC], Shivam Dube , Nitish Kumar Reddy , Axar Patel , Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy , Ravi Bishnoi , Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur.
However, he picked up a hamstring injury during the England tour in July and was on the mend before a “rectus femoris strain” ruled him out of the Afghanistan series and the Asiad. Harshit has been hampered by injuries this year.
India also has a full-strength squad for the Asian Games, which begin in Aichi-Nagoya on September 19, although India will play their quarter-final on September 28. As per the squad announced for the Afghanistan T20Is, Jasprit Bumrah , Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar ‘s participation was also subject to fitness.
