Fast bowler Harshit Rana has officially joined the Indian squad ahead of the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, starting June 20. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed Rana’s inclusion on Tuesday, June 17.
As previously reported by RevSportz, Rana was expected to remain with the senior squad following his recent outings with India A. The right-arm seamer featured in two matches against the England Lions and also participated in an intra-squad match in Beckenham. After the game, it was communicated internally that he would continue to stay on with the national side, while the rest of the India A players returned home.
India’s touring party, led by Shubman Gill, initially featured five specialist fast bowlers—Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh—alongside two seam-bowling all-rounders, Shardul Thakur and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Although Rana wasn’t part of the original 18-member squad, selectors have now brought him in, likely as a precautionary measure given the physically demanding nature of the five-match series and the overcast English conditions. The move is also seen as a buffer against any late fitness concerns among the fast bowlers.
Rana made his international debut during India’s tour of Australia last year and has since played two Tests, five ODIs, and one T20I. While he missed out on initial selection—with Prasidh Krishna preferred due to form—his consistent domestic and A-team performances have kept him on the selectors’ radar.
India’s Updated Squad for the First Test:
Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana.
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