Harshit Rana Resumes Bowling At CoE, Fitness Status Still Unclear- Report

Harshit Rana resumes bowling at CoE [Source: AFP]In the latest development, Harshit Rana has resumed his bowling at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE); however, his fitness status is still unclear. According to a report by Cricbuzz, the Indian pacer, who has been sidelined with an injury, aims to make a quick comeback as he begins light training at the CoE.Rana has been marred by injuries in 2026, as he was ruled out of the T20 World Cup and the IPL 2026 season as well. However, he is now carefully planning his return and has started bowling, but not at full throttle.What injury did Harshit Rana suffer?Harshit sustained a massive blow during the England T20I series as the Indian seamer was ruled out midway through the tour due to a hamstring injury. The injury came soon after he returned from a lengthy rehabilitation spell.The right-arm seamer eventually reached the BCCI Centre of Excellence, but his weight management and fitness standards came under scrutiny after he was flagged by the Indian team management for being overweight by 2 kgs.His rehab suffered a setback as, ahead of the Afghanistan T20Is, the pacer injured himself during a match simulation. It was later revealed that he sustained a low-grade quad injury, which kept him out of practice for the next three weeks.ALSO READHardik Pandya, Harshit Rana's India Comeback Delayed Amid Fresh Fitness Concerns- ReportThe pacer might not fully recover before the T20Is against New Zealand, but he could be ready in time for the Test series against the Kiwis (if the selectors consider him).Why India needs Harshit Rana back in the setup?Before his long injury layoff, the 24-year-old was an integral part of Gautam Gambhir’s white-ball teams.His Test credentials were questioned, but he proved his worth in white-ball cricket, and he was also picked for the T20 World Cup squad before injury derailed his journey.His raw pace, combined with his ability to take wickets, became India’s key weapon, and that X factor has been missed by India ever since Harshit sustained an injury.In 14 ODI matches, Harshit has picked up 26 wickets, with an average of 27.38 and an economy of 6.21. Moreover, in the T20Is, the pacer has grabbed 16 wickets in 14 games, with an economy of 9.71.In his absence, India have tried fresh faces, especially in ODIs, but none of them delivered the goods, as the management needs him back (keeping in mind the World Cup next year).ALSO READShoaib Bashir Set To Be Retained In Central Contract Despite Playing Two Tests In A Year