The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has preponed Harshit Rana’s comeback. The bustling pacer, who had a tremendous 2025, underwent a knee surgery earlier this year but has now been added to India’s ODI squad for the third and final match of the ongoing series against Afghanistan. Rana has technically replaced Hardik Pandya, who got a niggle right before the commencement of the series.
The all-rounder, who went under the knife earlier this year due to a knee injury, missed the T20 World Cup 2026 and IPL 2026 as his recovery timeline was slated to be at least 3-4 months. While Rana was named as a part of the squad for the T20Is against Ireland and England, he now returns earlier than expected, with the team management asking him to join the camp before the third and final ODI against Afghanistan.
India’s squad for 3rd IND vs AFG ODI
Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Harshit Rana
Will Harshit Rana play in IND vs AFG 3rd ODI?
It isn’t a massive surprise that the BCCI has added Harshit Rana to the team. After all, he has been earmarked as India’s next pace-bowling all-rounder for the road to the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, where his kind of bowling could be a great asset. He already has 14 ODIs to his name, in which Rana has taken 26 wickets at a decent average of 27.38. Apart from this, he also has a fifty to his name. Rana is ideal for a No. 8 spot, a number where Gautam Gambhir’s India always likes to have someone who can do more than just hold a bat.
With India already 2-0 up in the series, Rana’s late addition could mean that he may get game time as well. As mentioned earlier, he’s part of India’s T20I team that will tour Ireland and England from June 26. Hence, before the long tour of Europe, India might think to iron out Rana’s rust in the dead rubber against Afghanistan. The third ODI of the series will be played tomorrow (June 20) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
