Mumbai: Indian fast bowler Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after sustaining a knee injury during a warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Mohammed Siraj has been named as Rana’s replacement in the squad.
The BCCI announced the development through an official post on its X handle, stating that Rana would take no further part in the tournament due to the injury sustained during the practice fixture.
Rana appeared to be in visible discomfort while bowling, aborting his run-up twice in a single over before eventually walking off the field. He managed to bowl only one over, conceding 16 runs, before being forced to retire hurt.
India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav had earlier acknowledged that injuries to key players can affect team combinations but expressed confidence in the squad’s depth. He said that while Rana’s absence would be felt, the team had adequate options to adjust their bowling combination.
Meanwhile, all-rounder Washington Sundar, who is recovering from a side strain, continues to remain part of the World Cup squad and is being monitored by the team management.
India are scheduled to face the United States at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday. On the same day, West Indies will take on Scotland at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, while Pakistan are set to face the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
