Indian fast bowler Harshit Rana suffered an injury during the warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday, February 4. Rana bowled just one ball and limped off the field in pain without returning to the ground, which is bad news for the team ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.

BCCI is yet to release an official update but fans are worried. If Rana’s injury is serious, he may miss the game, forcing India to look for a replacement. The selectors have some strong options who are currently in good form and have performed well in domestic cricket and recent tours.

Rana has played 9 T20Is so far, taking 9 wickets at an average of 33.00 and an economy rate of 10.60. The 24-year-old played three matches for India in the five-match home T20I series against New Zealand, taking two wickets at an average of 62.00 and a disappointing economy rate of 11.27.

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Harshit Rana replacement for T20 World Cup 2026: 3 cricketers to feature in India selection

1. Prasidh Krishna

Prasidh Krishna could be the frontrunner to replace Harshit Rana. The Karnataka pacer has a similar “hit on deck” profile which is crucial for extracting bounce on hard surfaces.

He has been in excellent form over the past 12 months. Prasidh had a stellar performance in IPL 2025, taking 25 wickets for the Gujarat Titans and winning the Purple Cap for his performance.

His ability to bowl at high speed, consistently exceeding 145 kilometers per hour, makes him a natural replacement for Harshit Rana. He last played a T20I for India in 2023 against Australia. The pacers took eight wickets in five games with an average of 27.5 and an economy rate of 11.

2. Mohammad Siraj

If the front office values ​​experience over an equal replacement, then Mohammed Siraj will be the natural choice. He is part of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup winning squad.

Siraj knows what it takes to perform in big games. His ability to swing the new ball and bowl at the death makes him a strong option in high-pressure events. The right-arm fast bowler took 14 wickets in 16 T20Is at an average of 32.29 and an economy rate of 7.79.

3. Khalil Ahmed

Khaleel Ahmed adds variety to the attack as the left-arm pacer, providing different angles that can trouble the top-order batsmen. He is currently in good form and took two wickets in the recent match for India A against the United States.

He has also been named as a substitute player for the 2024 T20 World Cup. In IPL 2025, Karel took 15 wickets in 14 games, often bowling difficult shots in the powerplay. Chennai Super Kings have retained his contract for the 2026 season.

The left-arm fast bowler has played 18 T20Is for India, taking 16 wickets at an average of 35.13 and an economy rate of 8.52. He last played in a T20I against Sri Lanka in 2024.

Also read: Josh Hazlewood ruled out of 2026 T20 World Cup, Steve Smith delighted