3 players who could replace Harshit Rana in India squad if he ruled out of IND vs AFG T20Is
(Courtesy : BCCI)
Harshit Rana, as per many reports, has been ruled out of IND vs AFG T20Is.
India’s three-match T20I series against Afghanistan is set to begin on September 13th in Delhi, with the India entering as obvious favourites despite struggling in T20Is over the past few months. However, for the Indian side, this is a significant series, as it marks the return of several players who had unresolved fitness concerns.
Harshit Rana was one of these players who was likely to make a comeback and was named in India’s squad for the series. However, he has now suffered another setback during the match-simulation test, which was part of his return to the national side.
With the series approaching and Rana’s injury pushing his presence into uncertainty, India could need another pace bowling option if Harshit is ruled out. While Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness is also being monitored, reports suggest that selectors are considering Prince Yadav as his backup, but India’s concerns over their pace bowling depth continue to grow.
3 possible replacements for Harshit Rana for the Afghanistan T20Is:
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3. Gurnoor Brar
Gurnoor Brar could be one of the most interesting options if India decide to reward a young fast bowler with an opening. The right-arm pacer has already represented India in ODIs during 2026 and gained international experience.
He made his debut for India in the Afghanistan ODI series this year and then went on to play in the ODIs in England. Having played 6 matches, he picked up 11 wickets with an economy of 6.96.
Brar is a lanky pacer with the ability to generate good pace and bounce, much like Harshit himself. Hence, the Afghanistan T20Is might be a good chance to test his potential in the shortest format of the game.
2. Prasidh Krishna
Prasidh Krishna is arguably the most experienced replacement option as of now for the KKR pacer. Krishna’s skills are well known in the shorter format, though his performances for India in this format do not often reflect the same.
While Prasidh has been considered India’s regular third-seam bowling option in the Test side and has also been backed in ODIs, his recent T20 numbers show why many selectors want to assess him carefully.
However, with all that international experience under his belt, Krishna is the next best thing to pick if Harshit Rana misses out due to injury.
1. Mayank Yadav
Mayank Yadav could provide India with something very different altogether. The young fast bowler is renowned for his pace and returned to India’s T20I plans during the Zimbabwe T20I series in 2026.
His raw pace and ability to generate extra bounce make him an attractive choice in T20s. He was excellent during the Zimbabwe series and was also the player of the match in the first T20I win for India in that series. The selectors might find him among the best recent performers if they have to pick a substitute for Rana.
Has Jasprit Bumrah cleared simulation test for Afghanistan T20Is?
Yes, Jasprit Bumrah has been declared fit after successfully clearing his match simulations and fitness evaluations at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru ahead of the T20I series against Afghanistan.
Has Nitish Kumar Reddy cleared simulation test for Afghanistan T20Is?
Yes, Nitish Kumar Reddy has successfully cleared his match-simulation tests and fitness assessment at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.
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