Fast bowler Harshit Rana has been added to India’s squad for the third and final ODI against Afghanistan in a last-minute selection decision by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The move comes as the team management looks to provide the pacer with match practice following his recovery from a knee injury that had kept him out of competitive cricket for several months.

Rana had previously been ruled out of the T20 World Cup after suffering a significant knee injury, which also forced him to miss the entire IPL 2026 season with Kolkata Knight Riders. The right-arm pacer has now completed his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) and has joined the Indian ODI squad in Chennai ahead of the final match of the series.

According to an official BCCI statement, the Men’s Selection Committee approved Rana’s inclusion as part of India’s preparation strategy for upcoming overseas assignments. India are set to tour Ireland and England in the coming weeks, and the management is keen to ensure that recovering players regain match fitness and rhythm before the demanding white-ball schedule begins.

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“The Men’s Selection Committee has added Mr Harshit Rana to the India squad for the third and final IDFC First Bank ODI against Afghanistan. Mr Rana, who has completed his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE), has linked up with the ODI squad in Chennai,” the board said in its release. The statement underlined that the decision was aimed at easing the bowler back into international cricket after his injury layoff.

Rana last featured for India in January during the ODI series against New Zealand and has since been on the sidelines due to his rehabilitation programme. His return is being closely monitored as the selectors look to assess his readiness for sustained international involvement. The final ODI against Afghanistan is expected to serve as an important benchmark in his comeback journey.

Notably, the selection committee did not release any player from the squad to accommodate Rana’s inclusion. The decision comes despite strong performances from young pacers Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar, who made their international debuts in the ongoing series and have impressed with their performances. Their form has added healthy competition within the pace unit, even as Rana’s return introduces another option for the selectors.

With India preparing for a packed international calendar, Rana’s inclusion highlights the team management’s focus on building squad depth and managing player workloads. The final ODI against Afghanistan will now not only determine the series outcome but also serve as a key opportunity for returning players to re-establish themselves in the national setup.

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