The Indian management and selectors have asked Harshit Rana to join the ODI squad ahead of the third match against Afghanistan in Chennai to regain international match-readiness following a knee surgery, TOI reported.

According to the report, Rana is not an official replacement for the injured Hardik Pandya and no replacement will be named for the all-rounder.

“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,” the publication quoted a BCCI source as saying.

Harshit Rana has been picked in the T20I squad for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England. Under head coach Gautam Gambhir, who heavily prioritises multi-dimensional players, Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy are being groomed as seam-bowling all-rounder backups for Pandya.

Days before the start of India’s triumphant T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, Rana was ruled out of the showpiece tournament due to a knee injury.

Rana had sustained the injury during the T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai. He left the field after experiencing pain in his knee and pulling out of his bowling stride twice in one over. Mohammed Siraj later replaced him in the Indian T20 World Cup squad.

Subsequently, Harshit Rana underwent a surgery and missed the entire IPL 2026 season for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).