India fast bowler Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan and the 2026 Asian Games following a fresh injury setback. The Men's Selection Committee confirmed the decision after the pacer sustained a rectus femoris strain during a match simulation session on September 7.
Rana had been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and appeared to be making progress before this latest injury occurred. His absence marks another frustrating chapter in a year plagued by fitness issues, which previously saw him miss the 2026 Indian Premier League and the Men's T20 World Cup due to hamstring and knee injuries, respectively.
Yash Thakur earns international call-up
In response to the vacancy, selectors have drafted Vidarbha fast bowler Yash Thakur into the squad for both upcoming assignments. The 27-year-old, who previously made his T20I debut during India's tour of Zimbabwe in July, brings a solid domestic track record to the setup. In his two international appearances to date, Thakur has claimed four wickets, while his broader domestic profile includes 81 wickets in 50 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches at an economy rate of 7.04.
Thakur joins a pace unit that continues to be spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. The team is currently preparing for a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, which is scheduled to take place in Delhi on September 13, 15, and 17. Following the conclusion of the series, the squad is set to depart for the 2026 Asian Games on September 18.
The leadership group remains unchanged for these fixtures, with Shreyas Iyer continuing as captain and Tilak Varma serving as vice-captain. The updated squad for the Afghanistan series features Shreyas Iyer, Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Yash Thakur. The same personnel will represent the nation at the Asian Games.
