Harshit Rana underwent knee surgery after suffering an injury just before T20 World Cup 2026.
Despite not playing any domestic cricket, former India player Aakash Chopra explained why Harshit Rana should be in the Men in Blue's squad for the third ODI against Afghanistan.
He emphasized that, as there is now no domestic cricket being played, the right-arm seamer would have demonstrated his fitness in simulation matches at the Center of Excellence (COE).
On Saturday, June 20, Chennai is hosting the last One-Day International (ODI) of the three-match series between Afghanistan and India. With decisive victories in the first two games, the hosts have already pocketed the series.
Chopra, in a video on his YouTube channel, pointed out that the selection happened as per protocol, although the truth might be bitter for Rana's critics.
"Harshit Rana's name has come up in the Indian team. Someone was asking me how Harshit's name came when he hasn't played any domestic cricket. So let me just tell all of you that the rule to play domestic cricket is only applicable when domestic cricket is happening. Apart from that, you come after playing a few simulation matches in the COE, and it's equal for everyone," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
"I understand that Harshit Rana gets a lot of hate, and you might say that I am doing PR in this video. I am not doing PR. I am just explaining the protocol to you. The protocol is the same for everyone. You don't like me saying this, but it's the truth, and it feels bitter automatically," he added.
Rana was out of action due to a knee injury he had sustained just before the T20 World Cup 2026 and later underwent surgery for the same. He has missed the IPL 2026 as well, apart from the T20 World Cup.
Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya may also return to the Indian team without playing any domestic cricket, according to Aakash Chopra. He emphasized that Rana couldn't have waited for the start of the domestic season to demonstrate his fitness.
"If Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya play now, they won't get a chance to play anything in between, but they will straightaway walk into the team because you will already come after practising and doing match simulation in the COE. The same is true for Harshit Rana," he said.
"Whether you like him or you hate him, you will have to understand one thing. The rules will remain the same for everyone. Don't focus on a specific person and follow the protocols. If domestic cricket is happening, you ask players to come after playing one or two matches, so that we get to know (about their fitness), but if domestic cricket is not happening, will they not play cricket for six months? It doesn't make sense," Chopra observed.
Harshit had 26 wickets in 14 ODIs for India and has been named in the India squad for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England and the Asian Games 2026.