Yash Thakur Replaces Injured Harshit Rana in India Squads for Afghanistan T20Is and Asian Games 2026

Fast bowler Harshit Rana has been ruled out of India's upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan and the 2026 Asian Games after sustaining a fresh injury during his rehabilitation process. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Rana suffered a rectus femoris quadriceps thigh strain while bowling during a match simulation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on September 7. The Men's Selection Committee has named Vidarbha fast bowler Yash Thakur as his replacement in both squads.

Rana had been undergoing rehabilitation following a hamstring injury suffered during India's tour of England in July and was originally included in the squads subject to fitness clearance. Meanwhile, pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah, along with all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar, have been cleared for selection after successfully completing their required fitness assessments. The 27-year-old Yash Thakur, who made his T20I debut during India's tour of Zimbabwe in July and claimed four wickets in two games, returns to the national squad. India's T20I series against Afghanistan begins on September 13 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, while their Asian Games campaign starts on September 28.