Harshit Rana ruled out of India’s Asian Games squad, BCCI names replacement

India's pacer Harshit Rana has been ruled out of both the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan and the Asian Games in Japan due to a fresh hamstring injury. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that Yash Thakar will replace Rana in both series. Rana previously missed India's T20 World Cup campaign in February due to a hamstring tear and also missed the entire IPL 2026 season before making a comeback during the tour to Ireland and England.

Thakar, who replaced Rana on the tour, had a successful stint, picking up four wickets in two matches. The BCCI had initially named Rana in the squad subject to fitness clearance. Rana's latest injury occurred while he was undergoing mandatory fitness clearance tests at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence. India are set to play Afghanistan in the first of three T20I matches in Delhi on Saturday, followed by a one-off T20I against Japan before the Asian Games gold medal defense against Japan on September 28.