Harshit Rana included in India squad for 3rd Afghanistan ODI:Pacer completes recovery after knee surgery; series finale in Chennai

Harshit Rana has been added to the Indian cricket team for the third ODI against Afghanistan on 20 August. The pacer has been out of action for a few months after he underwent a knee surgery. India, on expected lines, have already won the three-match series 2-0. This is Shubman Gill’s first ODI series win as captain and now the Men in Blue will eye a whitewash at home to boost their 2027 World Cup preparations. Harshit Rana may be picked in playing XI The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced this in a statement. Harshit’s last international appearance was on 28 January, when he last appeared in an international match. Rana was part of India’s T20 World Cup squad but suffered a knee strain in a warm-up match, causing him to be ruled out entirely. The 24-year-old also went on to miss the IPL 2026 due to his recovery from the knee surgery. With the series already won, India might have Harshit in the playing XI, just to get him match fit for the Ireland and England tours. The Delhi cricketer has been named in India’s squads for the Ireland and England tours. India’s packed international schedule India have a packed international schedule in 2026 after the home series against Afghanistan concludes. Following the tours of Ireland and England where Team India will play limited-overs cricket, the Men in Blue are set to don the whites when they travel to Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series. India will also tour Bangladesh subsequently for three ODIs and as many T20Is in September and it will be followed by the Asian Games. In October, India will tour New Zealand for a full-fledged series including five T20Is, three ODIs and two Test matches. 2026 will end with Team India hosting Sri Lanka in a white-ball competition.