Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK ;  June 19: Indian all-rounder Harshit Rana has been included in the Indian squad for the third and final One-Day International (ODI) against Afghanistan, providing a major boost to the team ahead of the concluding match of the series.

Rana has successfully completed his rehabilitation programme at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (COE) and has joined the Indian ODI squad in Chennai. His return marks an important step in his recovery journey after a prolonged period on the sidelines due to injury.

The young all-rounder had suffered a knee injury during a warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai, which forced him to miss the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. The injury also ruled him out of the entire 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he represents the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Undergoing extensive rehabilitation and medical supervision at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, Rana has regained fitness and has now been considered available for national selection. His inclusion in the squad is expected to strengthen India’s bowling options as well as provide additional depth in the lower middle order.

The updated Indian squad for the third ODI against Afghanistan includes Shubman Gill as captain, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain, KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan as wicketkeepers, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana among other players selected for the final match.

India will hope that Rana’s return from injury provides fresh energy to the squad as they look to finish the ODI series against Afghanistan on a strong note. His comeback also comes as a positive development for Indian cricket, with the management closely monitoring the fitness of young players ahead of upcoming international assignments.