T20 WC 2026: Harshit Rana likely to be ruled out, India may recall Mohammed Siraj

India’s T20 World Cup plans have taken a hit with young fast bowler Harshit Rana set to miss the tournament after picking up an injury during the warm-up game against South Africa. As per reports, Mohammed Siraj is the frontrunner to replace Rana in the squad.

Rana appeared uncomfortable while bowling his first over against the Proteas and was forced to leave the field immediately after completing it. He was seen pulling up mid-delivery twice and later clutching his knee, raising concerns among the team management. The pacer did not return to the field for the remainder of the match, having conceded 16 runs in his lone over.

The report further stated that the Indian team management was officially briefed about Rana’s injury status on Thursday evening-just two days before India’s tournament opener against the USA.

Also Read: T20 WC 2026: Has Samson lost his battle as an opener to Kishan?

Although India captain Suryakumar Yadav stopped short of confirming Rana’s exit ahead of the match, indications suggest the pacer has been ruled out of the competition. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai on Friday, Suryakumar said, “Harshit Rana hasn’t been ruled out yet. The physios are assessing him, but it doesn’t look good.”

Acknowledging the impact of a potential absence, the skipper added that Rana’s injury would disrupt the team’s balance. “It’s a big blow because of the combination we plan with a 15-member squad. If he misses out, we’ll definitely feel it. That said, we have enough fast-bowling options and will choose the best possible replacement,” he explained, also pointing out that the responsibility with the bat would then rest more heavily on the top eight.

India are also monitoring the recovery of Washington Sundar, who is yet to regain full fitness and link up with the squad. Meanwhile, Tilak Varma has already joined the team and featured in the warm-up fixture against South Africa.