India fast bowler Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match T 20I series against Afghanistan and the 2026 Asian Games after suffering a fresh injury setback. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named Vidarbha pacer Yash Thakur as his replacement in both squads.
According to a BCCI statement released on September 10, 2026, Rana was progressing well during his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE). However, he sustained a rectus femoris strain (a thigh muscle injury) while bowling in a match simulation on September 7 and has subsequently been ruled out of both assignments.
Rana has endured a string of injury issues in recent months. He previously suffered a hamstring injury during the T 20I series against England and had been working his way back to full fitness.
Yash Thakur, the 27-year-old right-arm pacer from Vidarbha, steps in as the replacement. Thakur made his T20I debut during India’s tour of Zimbabwe in July 2026, playing two matches and claiming four wickets. He has an impressive domestic record, taking 81 wickets in 50 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches at an economy rate of 7.04.
In positive news for the team, star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been declared fit and available for both the Afghanistan series and the Asian Games. All-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar have also been cleared.
India will face Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series in Delhi on September 13, 15, and 17. The side will then compete in the 2026 Asian Games cricket competition in Japan. Shreyas Iyer will captain the team, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain.
The updated squad for both events includes: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Yash Thakur.
Rana’s absence is a setback for India’s pace attack, but Thakur’s inclusion gives the selectors another opportunity to assess the emerging talent in T20 cricket.
