India have suffered a major setback ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 as young fast bowler Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury.

 

Injury During Warm-Up Match

 

Harshit Rana picked up the injury during India’s warm-up match against South Africa on February 4 at Navi Mumbai. The right-arm pacer looked uncomfortable while bowling and pulled out of his run-up twice. Rana left the field after one over which resulted in 16 runs while he was holding his right knee.

 

The injury immediately raised concerns among team officials, especially with the World Cup just days away.

 

Medical Reports Confirm Serious Damage

 

Medical reports, when retrieved later, confirmed that Rana indeed suffered from swelling in his right knee, reduced movement, and pain on the outer joint line of his knee. Through the scans, it was confirmed that Rana suffered from a torn lateral meniscus.

 

Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, an accomplished sports surgeon, advised surgery for Rana, and the decision was made during their consultation on the 6th of February. This eliminated Rana from the entire T20 World Cup 2026.

 

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Rana’s Short but Eventful India Journey

 

Harshit Rana made his India debut in January 2025 and entered World Cup plans late. Early in his career, he faced heavy criticism and was often labelled a product of favouritism.

 

Nevertheless, Rana demonstrated strong mental character as he recovered and showed better performances before the World Cup. He won the favor of the management as he took two wickets in three innings of T20 cricket in the 2025 season.

 

Why India will miss Harshit Rana

 

Though India have fast bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, Rana provided the team something exceptional. His ability to bat lower down the order gave India depth, which is rare for a fast bowler.

 

Rana’s batting skills even earned him an all-rounder tag. He played alongside Virat Kohli in the third match of the ODI series against New Zealand to help India avoid a collapse.

 

India’s Injury Concerns Continue

 

India are already managing fitness issues in the squad. Washington Sundar missed the New Zealand series due to a side strain but is expected to return in time for the World Cup. Tilak Varma, who also missed that series, has recovered and played two warm-up matches.

 

The Indian team will maintain their focus as they prepare for their match against the USA at Wankhede Stadium on February 7 despite Rana's absence.