Harshit Rana set to join India squad ahead of third Afghanistan ODI

Dharamshala: The Indian management and the selectors have asked Harshit Rana to join the ODI team ahead of the third ODI against Afghanistan in Chennai. TOI understands that the selectors are not going to announce any replacement for injured all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Rana will just join to get back into the environment of international cricket after he missed the T20 World Cup due to knee surgery. “The team management offered Harshit the opportunity to join the team earlier in the series, but it was decided that he needed more practice at the CoE. He has been bowling nine to ten overs every day and has been able to maintain his intensity. He is also working very hard on his batting. He will most likely be officially cleared by the CoE on June 17 and will travel to Chennai immediately,” a BCCI source told TOI.

Rana has been selected for the T20Is in Ireland and England starting later this month. The team management is keen on grooming him as a seam-bowling all-rounder alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy to prepare backups for Hardik Pandya.