BCCI Makes Big Harshit Rana Call [Source: AFP]Ahead of India’s ODI series against Afghanistan, the BCCI have reportedly taken a bold step on the availability of fast bowler Harshit Rana. Despite being ruled out due to injury, he is expected to join the squad in Chennai.For context, Rana has been out of action since the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 due to a knee injury. He missed the IPL 2026 and was ruled out of the ODI series against Afghanistan as well.Harshit Rana to join India’s ODI squadAccording to reports, Harshit Rana’s recovery was on track, but he needed more time to regain full fitness. Hence, he didn’t even appear for a fitness test at the BCCI CoE before the ODI series began.That being said, according to TOI, Harshit has been reportedly asked to join India’s squad in Chennai, where the third ODI against Afghanistan is scheduled to be played.“The team management offered Harshit the opportunity to join the team earlier in the series, but it was decided that he needed more practice at the CoE. He has been bowling nine to ten overs every day and has been able to maintain his intensity. He is also working very hard on his batting. He will most likely be officially cleared by the CoE on June 17 and will travel to Chennai immediately,” BCCI source told TOI.However, he is not officially replacing Hardik Pandya, who has been ruled out due to injury. Instead, Harshit Rana is joining the squad after completing rehabilitation from knee surgery. The idea behind recalling Rana back into the squad is to reintegrate him into the national setup so that he can resume training and prepare for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England.Also Read - IND vs AFG Live Streaming, Live Telecast- 1st ODI: Where To Watch Afghanistan Tour Of India 2026?Harshit Rana becomes an important assetInterestingly, the BCCI appear keen on having Harshit Rana back into the national setup as soon as possible, as they see him as a genuine seam all-rounder option.With Hardik Pandya being highly susceptible to injuries, the management are actively looking out for options ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. They’re already grooming Nitish Reddy, and Harshit Rana happens to be another backup option.India have lacked a true pace-bowling all-rounder outside Hardik for several years, making Harshit's development particularly valuable. Hence, his joining the ODI squad is more than just a minor tweak.What happened to Hardik Pandya?Hardik Pandya was expected to return for India’s ODI series against Afghanistan after recovering from a back injury suffered during IPL 2026. He had trained at the BCCI’s CoE in Bengaluru and was reportedly close to joining the squad. However, he suffered a fresh low-grade leg sprain during training. The injury is not considered serious or long-term, but the medical staff advised him to avoid strain and weight-bearing for a few days. As a result, he has been ruled out of the Afghanistan ODIs. Also, India are unlikely to name a direct replacement in the squad immediately. Instead, they will treat Nitish Reddy as a backup option for the time being. Also Read - 7th Woman, 4th Highest! Danni Wyatt-Hodge Pips Harmanpreet Kaur With Historic T20 World Cup Century
