India is set to make a change to their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad, with Mohammed Siraj expected to replace Harshit Rana, who has been ruled out due to injury.
The decision follows Rana’s inability to complete his bowling spell during India’s warm-up match against South Africa earlier this week.
Harshit Rana Injured During Warm-Up Match
Rana’s injury became evident during India’s only official warm-up game, where he was unable to complete his run-up while bowling.
The pacer pulled out of his delivery stride twice in the same over before leaving the field, visibly uncomfortable and clutching his knee. He bowled just one over in the match before his participation was cut short.
The team management was informed of Rana’s condition later that evening, and medical assessments indicated that he would not recover in time for the tournament.
Mohammed Siraj Likely To Be Named Replacement
With Rana unavailable, the selectors are expected to name Mohammed Siraj as his replacement in the squad. Siraj, who last featured in a T20I in July 2024, is currently with the extended group and is set to join the main squad ahead of India’s opening match.
The replacement is expected to be officially confirmed by the selection committee later on Friday.
Suryakumar Yadav Addresses Injury Situation
India captain Suryakumar Yadav had earlier stated in a pre-match press conference that Rana had not yet been formally ruled out, adding that the medical team was still assessing the situation at that time.
He also acknowledged the impact of losing Rana, noting that squad combinations are carefully planned around the 15 selected players, and confirmed that India has multiple fast-bowling options available if a replacement were required.
India is scheduled to begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign shortly, and the late squad change comes just days before its opening fixture. The team management is expected to finalise the updated squad composition once the replacement is formally approved.
