Mohammed Siraj in line to replace injured Harshit Rana in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad

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India’s preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 have hit an early hurdle, with fast bowler Harshit Rana reportedly set to miss the upcoming tournament due to injury. Multiple reports suggest that Rana has been ruled out following a concerning fitness assessment, prompting the national selectors to look for a replacement at short notice.

According to a report by The Indian Express, the Indian team management was informed about Rana’s condition on Thursday evening. Although there was initial hope that the injury might not be serious, subsequent evaluations appear to have ruled out his participation in the marquee event.

With Rana unlikely to recover in time, Mohammed Siraj has emerged as the leading candidate to take his place in India’s T20 World Cup squad. Siraj’s experience across formats and his proven ability in high-pressure international matches make him a logical choice for the team management.

Selectors are expected to make the formal announcement soon, possibly before India’s next group-stage fixture. Siraj’s inclusion would add depth and experience to India’s pace attack, especially crucial given the demanding schedule and conditions during the tournament.

India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav initially downplayed concerns while addressing the media ahead of India’s tournament opener. Speaking at a pre-match press conference, he said that Rana had not been officially ruled out at that point, though the signs were not encouraging.

“Harshit Rana hasn’t been ruled out yet. Physios are assessing him, but he doesn’t look good,” Suryakumar said, acknowledging the uncertainty around the pacer’s availability.When asked about the potential impact of Rana’s absence, the captain admitted it would be a setback. He stressed, however, that India have enough bench strength to manage the situation and find the best possible replacement among the available fast bowlers.

Rana’s injury became evident during a warm-up match against South Africa, where the right-arm pacer struggled to complete his run-up. On two occasions in the same over, he pulled out of his delivery stride, clearly uncomfortable. Shortly afterward, he was seen clutching his knee in visible pain before leaving the field.

The fast bowler managed to bowl just one over in the match, conceding 16 runs, before his participation was cut short. The incident raised immediate concerns among the team staff, eventually leading to further medical assessments.

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Despite the injury setback, defending champions India will turn their focus to the opening clash against United States. The match is scheduled to take place at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday, February 7.

As the tournament begins with Pakistan vs Netherlands clash on Saturday morning, the spotlight will remain on how quickly India finalize Rana’s replacement and whether Siraj can slot seamlessly into the squad for their T20 World Cup title defense.

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