The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has added Harshit Rana to the Indian squad. Well, the right-arm pacer has been included just for the opening Test match against England that starts on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds.
Harshit Rana added as cover?
It came as a bit of a surprise when the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee left out Rana in the main squad. He made his debut in the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) and even took four wickets in his first game. However, he was axed as the BCCI chose five other specialist pacers, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh.
Now with Rana back in the mix, and that too this close to the first Test, the think tank might as well include him in the playing XI. Apparently, Rana was asked to stay back after the two unofficial Tests between India A and England Lions, both of which ended in draws. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer even participated in the intra-squad India vs India A game. Meanwhile, no other India A player has been asked to stay back now.
He’s only been added since some pacers might be carrying some niggles. Fear not, it is not Jasprit Bumrah, who recently admitted he’s ready to play the opener against England. The pacer who might be in question could be Akash Deep, who made his return at IPL 2025 after an injury. However, he played only six games and missed the two unofficial four-day Tests as well. Although he bowled in the intra-squad match, the uncertainty remains over his fitness.
Team India squad for 1st England Test in Leeds
Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana
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