Indian pacer Harshit Rana has returned to the national setup after recovering from a long-term knee injury and has been added to India’s squad for the third ODI against Afghanistan.
The announcement was made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India on Friday, ahead of the final match of the three-game series scheduled to be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Injury Comeback for Young Fast Bowler
Rana has not featured for India since suffering a serious knee injury during a practice match ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. The fast-bowling all-rounder injured his right knee after bowling only a brief spell and was later diagnosed with a ligament issue that required surgical treatment.
The setback forced him to miss several months of cricket, including India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign and the entire IPL 2026 season.
Following an extensive rehabilitation programme, Rana has now been declared fit and is back in contention for international selection.
Opportunity Ahead of Overseas Assignments
India have already wrapped up the ODI series against Afghanistan by winning the first two matches. With the series result secured, the final game could provide the team management with an opportunity to assess returning players and experiment with combinations.
Rana’s inclusion comes at an important time as India begin preparations for upcoming white-ball assignments later this year.
The team management will likely be keen to monitor his match fitness after a lengthy absence from competitive cricket.
Promising Start to International Career
The 24-year-old has steadily built a reputation as a reliable pace option in limited-overs cricket. In his ODI career so far, Rana has represented India in 14 matches and claimed 16 wickets.
His ability to generate pace and contribute lower down the batting order has made him one of the country’s emerging all-round prospects.
Before his injury, Rana was considered a regular member of India’s white-ball plans and was widely expected to feature in the T20 World Cup squad.
England and Ireland Tours Await
Rana’s comeback has been further rewarded with selection in India’s squads for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England. The two tours will include a series of T20 Internationals and are expected to serve as an important testing ground for players targeting long-term roles in the national side.
As he prepares for his first international appearance in several months, Rana will be eager to make an immediate impact and restart his journey in Indian cricket after a frustrating injury spell.
His return adds depth to India’s pace attack and provides the team with another valuable option ahead of a busy international schedule.
