In a setback for the Indian cricket team, pacer Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2026 due to a knee injury. The injury occurred during the warm-up match against South Africa on Wednesday, February 4, in Navi Mumbai. Rana was seen struggling during his only over, where he conceded 16 runs, and subsequently left the field. He appeared to be in discomfort, clutching his knee after aborting his run-up twice.

The BCCI has named Mohammed Siraj as Rana's replacement in the squad. Siraj is expected to join the Indian team in Mumbai today, February 6, ahead of their opening match against the USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium.

While initial reports suggested uncertainty regarding Rana's availability, with Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav stating that the medical team was still assessing him, sources confirmed that the pacer would not recover in time for the tournament. Yadav acknowledged the blow to the team due to the changes in the team combination. The team management was informed of Rana's injury status on Thursday evening.

Mohammed Siraj's inclusion is expected to bolster India's pace attack. Siraj last played a T20I for India in July 2024. He has played 16 T20Is, taking 14 wickets. Siraj is known for his consistent pace and accuracy.

Rana's absence is a significant loss for India, as he was expected to contribute with his ability to force errors and take wickets. Despite leaking runs, his knack for picking up wickets was considered a valuable asset.