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India will be back in the ODI format for the first time since January 2026, when they lost against New Zealand. The Men in Blue will host Afghanistan for a three-match ODI series, with the first ODI set to be played on Saturday at HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. Ahead of the match, there has been some news of Harshit Rana’s return to the ODI side once again.
As per the reports from the Times of India, Harshit Rana is set to join the side ahead of the third and final ODI. The Delhi-based pacer will be joining the team at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, where the last ODI is scheduled to take place. Harshit has been out for several months after picking up an injury during the warm-up match against South Africa ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Harshit Rana to join India's squad during Afghanistan series
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer had to undergo surgery after picking up a major injury while bowling in the warm-up game, which ruled him out of the T20 World Cup 2026 as well as the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. However, he has been named in the upcoming Ireland and England Tour by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selectors.
“The team management offered Harshit the opportunity to join the team earlier in the series, but it was decided that he needed more practice at the CoE. He has been bowling nine to ten overs every day and has been able to maintain his intensity. He is also working very hard on his batting. He will most likely be officially cleared by the CoE on June 17 and will travel to Chennai immediately,” a source told the Times of India.
Harshit Rana add balance to the squad?
The pacer made his debut back in 2025 and was named in the ICC Champions Trophy squad. He performed decently in the tournament and won his first ICC trophy for the national side. The pacer played some amazing innings in Australia and also against New Zealand at home. However, that was his last appearance in the ODI side.
Harshit Rana adds some balance to the squad with his improved batting skills towards the end of the innings. He has scored a fifty against New Zealand in the ODI series and nearly took the game away from the Kiwis while batting alongside Virat Kohli.
Harshit Rana can replace Hardik Pandya
His inclusion in the team will surely add balance and hand options for Gautam Gambhir ahead of the England series. The young pacer has had a solid start to his career in the format, picking up 26 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 27.38 and an economy of 6.22.
He was crucial for India while Hardik Pandya was absent due to an injury and workload management. Apart from him, Nitish Kumar Reddy has also been a frontrunner to replace Pandya in the long term due to the former’s improvement in bowling.
