India’s cricket team has announced replacements for Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy, who have been ruled out of upcoming tours to England and Zimbabwe due to injuries.
As Team India grapples with injuries while aiming for match-winning performances, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named replacements for Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy ahead of their upcoming ODI and T20I assignments.
Both players were sidelined during the T20I series against England after suffering hamstring injuries, further depleting the bowling unit. With the Men in Blue set to face England in ODIs and Zimbabwe in T20Is, the question arises: who will step in for the injured players?
According to an official release from the BCCI on July 12, Prince Yadav has been included in the ODI squad for the series against England, while Ravi Bishnoi will replace Chakravarthy in the T20I squad for the three-match series in Zimbabwe. Prince Yadav will also take Rana’s position for the Zimbabwe tour.
The BCCI statement detailed the injuries: “Rana reported a sudden onset of discomfort in his right hamstring during the third T20I against England at Trent Bridge. Subsequent scans revealed a Grade 1 hamstring injury. He has been ruled out of the forthcoming ODI series against England and will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) for further assessment and management.”
“Chakravarthy also reported a sudden onset of discomfort in his left hamstring during the third T20I against England. An MRI scan subsequently revealed a Grade 2 hamstring injury. Based on specialist medical advice, he has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe. He will report to the BCCI COE for further management,” the statement continued.
The ODI squad for the England series includes Shubman Gill as captain, alongside notable players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah. The full squad is as follows: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), KL Rahul (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, and Prince Yadav.
For the T20I series against Zimbabwe, the squad features Shreyas Iyer as captain, with players including Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan. The complete T20I squad is: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), and Ravi Bishnoi.
As preparations ramp up, key players such as Kuldeep Yadav, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah have begun practicing at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Their experience and skill will undoubtedly bolster the team’s chances in the upcoming matches.
Virat Kohli, who missed the home series against Afghanistan due to a hamstring tear sustained during the IPL 2026 final, is expected to make a significant impact. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma is looking to regain his form after scoring 16 and 48 in the first two ODIs against Afghanistan, needing strong performances against England to secure his place for the 2027 World Cup.
Jasprit Bumrah’s return to the bowling lineup is particularly noteworthy, as his ability to perform across all phases of the game adds depth to India’s bowling strategy.
This series presents a critical opportunity for the Indian team to showcase their resilience and talent, especially in light of the recent injuries to key players. The upcoming matches against England and Zimbabwe will be pivotal as they prepare for future challenges.
For further details, refer to the BCCI’s official statement.