Harshit Rana likely out of T20 World Cup after knee injury, India’s pace plans disrupted

India’s preparations for the T20 World Cup have taken a hit with young fast bowler Harshit Rana likely to be ruled out due to a knee injury , casting uncertainty over the team’s bowling plans just before the tournament begins.

India’s preparations for the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7 , have suffered an untimely blow with young fast bowler Harshit Rana likely to miss the tournament due to a knee injury , disrupting the team’s pace combinations ahead of the opening game.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav said the pacer has not been officially ruled out but admitted the situation does not look promising.

“Harshit Rana has not been ruled out yet, the physios are assessing him but he does not look good,” he said ahead of India’s opening game.

Though not a regular in the first eleven, Rana was seen as a valuable squad option . The team management considered him a useful pace resource who could be deployed depending on conditions. His ability to hit the deck hard and provide breakthroughs in the middle overs, along with his lower order hitting, made him a handy backup choice in a long tournament.

With tight schedules and varied pitches, India had hoped to rotate their quicks and use Rana strategically. His absence now reduces that flexibility and puts more responsibility on the frontline seamers.

Mohammed Siraj has emerged as the leading contender to join India’s T20 World Cup squad after Harshit Rana was ruled out with a knee injury. He is expected to be named as Rana’s official replacement, bringing much-needed experience and firepower to India’s pace attack alongside Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya.

The concerns do not end there. All rounder Washington Sundar is also doubtful after sustaining a side strain and rib muscle tear. Sundar’s injury affects both departments, as he offers control with the ball in the powerplay and depth with the bat, making his potential absence another blow to team balance.

With two squad players under injury clouds, India’s think tank may be forced to rethink combinations early. Losing key backup options even before the first match has made the build up less than ideal for the team.