Picture Credit: PTI
India’s men’s selection committee has included all-rounder Harshit Rana in the squad for the concluding ODI of the Afghanistan series, which will take place at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.
Having completed his recovery programme at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, the pace-bowling all-rounder has now joined the team ahead of the final fixture.
Rana’s season came to an abrupt halt when he injured his right knee during a warm-up match against South Africa before the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup. The injury forced him off the field after a brief spell and eventually required surgical intervention.
The selectors subsequently named Mohammed Siraj as his replacement for the tournament, which India eventually won on home soil.
Harshit Rana’s rehabilitation process also ruled him out of IPL 2026, prompting Kolkata Knight Riders to bring in Navdeep Saini as a replacement for the season.
The 24-year-old has delivered encouraging performances whenever he has featured in India’s ODI side.
Across 14 appearances, Harshit Rana has claimed 16 wickets while maintaining a respectable average of 27.38 and an economy rate of 6.21. He last represented India during the home T20I series against New Zealand earlier this year.
The selectors have also retained faith in Rana for India’s forthcoming T20I assignments in Ireland and England, where the team will play a seven-match series.
India head into the final ODI in a commanding position after winning the opening two matches of the series.
Victories in Dharamsala and Lucknow have already secured the series, allowing the team management to further evaluate players ahead of future international commitments.
Rana’s return adds another pace option to the squad and marks an important milestone in his journey back to competitive cricket following an extended spell on the sidelines.
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