The India national cricket team is battling a number of injury concerns even before it begins its title defense at the T20 World Cup 2026.
India is facing injury worries before the start of T20 World Cup 2026.
Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the tournament, while the Indian team management is yet to get the go-ahead from the BCCI CoE on Washington Sundar.
There is positive news: Tilak Verma is fine after playing a quick innings in the T20 World Cup 2026 practice match against South Africa. This was his first game after recovering from testicular torsion during the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025 which required immediate surgery.
Also read: Jasprit Bumrah is not the world’s No. 1 T20 bowler: Aakash Chopra
Harshit Rana’s World Cup dream ended due to knee injury
As the Men in Blue are set to face the USA in the opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 7, the BCCI has announced the replacement for Harshit Rana. The Delhi player was ruled out of the global competition due to a knee injury.
Rana suffered a knee injury during India’s T20 World Cup 2026 practice match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai earlier this week. The fast bowler had his run-up stopped twice in the same over and then clutched his knee before leaving the field and will now miss the entire tournament.
Mohammed Siraj has been named as Rana’s replacement
After this setback, the BCCI selectors have acted swiftly and this time, they drew on experience to defend their title. Senior India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has been named as Rana’s replacement in the Indian squad for the domestic and showpiece events in Sri Lanka.
Mohammed Siraj has been included in the Indian squad after being approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as an injury replacement. Siraj joined the Indian team in Mumbai on Friday, February 6 and is likely to feature in the tournament opening match against the United States at the Wankhede Stadium.
The attacking bowler has not been a part of India’s T20I squad since July 2024, but Rana’s injury gives him a golden opportunity to play his second T20 World Cup, having been part of the victorious campaign of the previous edition in 2024 under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma.
Also read: Harshit Rana out of T20 World Cup 2026, Gautam Gambhir disappointed!
Siraj’s experience strengthens India’s bowling attack
The Hyderabad-born fast bowler, known for his consistent fitness and never-say-die attitude, recently played for India in the ODI series against the Black Caps. Siraj’s most recent innings was for Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy against Chhattisgarh, where he took five wickets.
Siraj is a specialist bowler in the powerplay, and given his proven track record of delivering match-winning spells in big games and handling pressure situations, he will share duties with top pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah in the T20 World Cup 2026.
However, the fast bowler has played 16 T20I matches for India so far, taking 14 wickets at an average of 32.28 and an economy rate of 7.79. But Siraj has remained the strike bowler for India in Tests and ODIs, where he has played nearly 100 matches and taken more than 200 wickets in both these formats.
