India’s preparation ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 With the fast bowler, he hit the hurdle early Harshit Rana It is reported that he will miss the upcoming tournament due to injury. Multiple reports suggest that Rana has been ruled out following a fitness assessment, prompting the national selectors to look for a replacement at short notice.
According to the report of “The Indian Express”, the management of the Indian team was informed about Rana’s condition on Thursday evening. Although there was initial hope that the injury was not serious, further assessments ruled him out of the marquee event.
Harshit Rana’s injury: Mohammed Siraj emerges as front-runner for replacement
Since Rana is unlikely to recover in time, Mohammad Siraj He has emerged as a prime contender for a place in India’s T20 World Cup squad. Siraj’s experience across formats and proven ability in high-pressure international matches make him a logical choice to lead the team.
The selectors are expected to make an official announcement soon, possibly before India’s next group stage match. Siraj’s inclusion will add depth and experience to India’s pace attack, crucial especially given the schedule and conditions required during the tournament.
Suryakumar Yadav removes Rana’s injury
India captain Suryakumar Yadav initially played down his concerns while addressing the media ahead of India’s tournament opener. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, he said that although the signs were not encouraging, Rana was not officially ruled out at that time.
“Harshit Rana still not ruled out. Physiologists are assessing him but he doesn’t look good” Suryakumar said, acknowledging the uncertainty over the pacer’s availability.
Asked about the potential impact of Rana’s absence, the skipper admitted it would be a setback. However, he emphasized that India have enough bench strength to handle the situation and find the best possible replacement among the available fast bowlers.
Rana’s injury became apparent during the warm-up match against South Africa, where the right-arm pacer struggled to complete runs. Twice at the same spot, he stepped out of the delivery as he was clearly worried. Shortly after, he was seen clutching his knee in visible pain before leaving the field.
The fast bowler conceded just one run in the match, conceding 16 runs, but his presence was cut short. The incident caused immediate concern among the team and resulted in further medical evaluations.
India is set to face USA as the defending champions in the T20 World Cup 2026
Despite the injury setback, defending champions India will focus on their opening match against the USA. The match is scheduled to be played on Saturday, February 7 at the famous Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
As the tournament kicks off on Saturday morning with Pakistan vs Netherlands, the focus will be on how quickly India can finalize Rana’s replacement and whether Siraj can seamlessly fit into the squad to defend their T20 World Cup title.
Also READ: Damien Martyn has announced the semi-finalists for the T20 World Cup 2026
