Team India pacer Harshit Rana made his international debut against Australia in Perth in November 2024. The Indian team management has strongly backed him as a fast bowler who can also chip in with the bat in the lower order. However, in a short career so far, the 24-year-old has already experienced a fair share of injury and fitness issues.
Due to his battles with multiple injuries, Harshit’s appearances for Team India so far have been restricted to an extent. He has only played two Test matches in which he has picked up four wickets at an average of 50.75. In 14 ODIs, he has claimed 26 wickets at an average of 27.38. Also, in 14 T20Is, he has 16 scalps at an economy rate of 9.71.
In the latest injury setback for Harshit, he has been ruled out of the T20I series against Afghanistan as well as the Asian Games 2026. In this feature, we look at five series the fast bowler has missed due to injury.
#1 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Harshit was named in Team India’s original 15-man squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 played at home earlier this year. However, he was ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a knee injury during the warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai.
The fast bowler had bowled just one over against South Africa before going off the field. He was later spotted with a strapped knee. Following consultations with a specialist and subsequent scans, the BCCI medical team deemed him unfit to participate in the tournament. Mohammed Siraj was called up as a replacement for Harshit in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad.
#2 Indian Premier League 2026
Following the T20 World Cup 2026, Harshit was also ruled out of the entire Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fast bowler underwent a knee surgery following the injury he suffered in the warm-up match against South Africa ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Following surgery, Harshit had to undergo an extensive rehabilitation program, which ruled him out of the entire IPL 2026 season. The 24-year-old had played a key role in KKR’s IPL 2024 triumph, claiming 19 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 20.15 and an economy rate of 9.08, with a best of 3-24.
#3 England vs India ODI series 2026
Having made a comeback after a four-month injury layoff, Harshit was ruled out of the three-match ODI series in England due to a hamstring injury. The right-arm fast bowler reported discomfort in his right hamstring during the third T20I against England at Trent Bridge. Scans revealed a Grade 1 hamstring injury, which ruled him out of the ODI series against England.
After recovering from injury, Harshit made an impressive comeback for India during the T20I tour of Ireland, registering figures of 3-24 in the first T20I in Belfast in June. He claimed 2-40 from four overs against England at Trent Bridge in the third T20I of the series in July and hasn’t played a match for India since then.
#4 Afghanistan vs India T20I series 2026
Harshit has been ruled out of the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan to be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The fast bowler picked up a fresh injury during his rehabilitation. A BCCI release on Thursday, September 10 said:
“The fast bowler was progressing well during his rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE). He sustained a rectus femoris strain while bowling during a match simulation on September 7 and has subsequently been ruled out.”
The BCCI also named 27-year-old Vidarbha fast bowler Yash Thakur as Harshit’s replacement for the T20Is against Afghanistan. Thakur made his T20I debut during India’s tour of Zimbabwe in July.
#5 Asian Games 2026
Apart from the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, Harshit will also miss Team India’s Asian Games 2026 campaign in Japan. Thakur has taken his place in the Asian Games squad as well. India have directly qualified for the second quarterfinal of the Asian Games 2026, which will be played at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on September 28.
Edited by Renin Wilben Albert
