Harshit Rana has been added to India’s squad for the third and final ODI against Afghanistan in Chennai on Saturday, June 20, after completing his rehabilitation from a knee injury.
The fast bowler had not featured at any level since being hurt shortly before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the start of the year, but India have now confirmed the 24-year-old is ready to return.
Rana has linked up with the squad in Chennai after completing his recovery at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, according to the ICC’s update on India’s squad change.
Rana return adds depth before India chase whitewash
India have already sealed the three-match ODI series, beating Afghanistan by seven wickets in Dharamsala on June 13 before winning by 170 runs in Lucknow on June 17.
The Chennai fixture now gives India a chance to complete a whitewash while also reintegrating Rana into the international setup before a busier stretch of white-ball cricket.
Shubman Gill captains a squad that also includes Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna.
For Rana, the immediate significance is simple: after months out, he is back in an India squad with a live opportunity to prove his fitness and force his way into the pace-bowling conversation again.
