Yash Thakur replaces the injured Harshit Rana for India's Afghanistan T20Is and Asian Games

India have lost Harshit Rana to a thigh muscle strain three days before their T20I series against Afghanistan begins, with Vidarbha seamer Yash Thakur called into both squads in his place

The BCCI confirmed on Thursday that Rana has been ruled out of the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan and of India's campaign at the 2026 Asian Games, and that the Men's Selection Committee had named Yash Thakur as his replacement in both squads.

The board said the fast bowler sustained "a rectus femoris strain while bowling during a match simulation on September 7", a session held at its Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The statement was issued by honorary secretary Devajit Saikia.

India open the series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Sunday, the first of three matches at the ground inside five days.

A second tournament lost this year

Rana had already missed the biggest assignment of India's year. He was withdrawn from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in February after hurting his knee in a warm-up match against South Africa, having bowled a single over before leaving the field, and Mohammed Siraj was approved as his replacement.

The 24-year-old Delhi seamer has taken 16 wickets in 14 T20Is at 25.50, with a best of 3-24. He has also played 14 ODIs for 26 wickets and two Tests, and had been working his way back to full fitness at the Centre of Excellence when the latest injury struck.

His absence removes a bowler India have leaned on for hard lengths in the middle overs and who has become a useful lower-order batter.

Thakur earns a quick recall

Thakur, 27, made his T20I debut on India's tour of Zimbabwe in July and took four wickets in two matches. He plays his domestic cricket for Vidarbha and was signed by Punjab Kings for the IPL.

The board pointed to his record in India's premier domestic T20 competition, where he has 81 wickets in 50 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches at an economy rate of 7.04.

That control, rather than raw pace, is what has kept him within reach of the squad since the Zimbabwe tour, and it gives the selectors a like-for-like seam option rather than a change of plan.

A pace attack still being assembled

Jasprit Bumrah is named in both squads and is expected to bowl in the series, having been managed carefully through the season. Arshdeep Singh is the other frontline quick, with Nitish Kumar Reddy offering seam-bowling cover.

Washington Sundar and Reddy have both been passed fit by the medical team and were due to join the squad in Delhi.

The spin department is unchanged, with Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel all retained.

Afghanistan the hosts, Delhi the venue

Afghanistan are the designated home side for the series even though all three matches are being played in Delhi, an arrangement that has become familiar in their bilateral calendar. Ibrahim Zadran captains a squad that includes Rashid Khan and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

India are led by Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain and both Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan named as wicketkeepers.

The second and third matches follow on September 15 and September 17, each starting at 7pm.

Japan next, then the Asian Games

India's schedule then takes them to the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture on September 22 for a one-off T20I against Japan, staged as the Suzuki Cup to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The Asian Games squad, which Thakur has also joined, follows that trip, leaving the selectors little time to reassess if any further fitness concerns emerge over the next fortnight.

India begin against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, with Thakur in line for a third T20I cap.

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