Following India’s five-wicket defeat to England in the first Test at Headingley, young pacer Harshit Rana has been released from the squad and is flying back home, according to multiple reports. The decision comes just days after Rana was added to the main squad as a backup option for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series.
Why Was Harshit Rana Released?
Rana, who was initially part of the India A squad, was retained with the senior team as a precautionary measure due to a niggle in the pace unit. However, with all frontline pacers now reportedly fit, head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed that Rana’s services were no longer required at this stage.
“If everyone is fine, he would have to fly back,” Gambhir said after the match.
Rana did not feature in the playing XI for the first Test and was not seen traveling with the team to Birmingham, where the second Test begins on July 2 at Edgbaston.
India’s Bowling Woes in Leeds
Despite scoring five centuries and posting over 800 runs, India failed to defend a 371-run target, with only Jasprit Bumrah delivering a standout performance (5 wickets in the first innings). The rest of the pace attack—Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Prasidh Krishna—struggled with consistency.
What’s Next for Team India?
With England leading the five-match series 1-0, India faces mounting pressure to bounce back. The team will resume training on June 28, with potential changes expected in the bowling lineup. Analysts have called for the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav to bolster spin options in England’s increasingly dry conditions.
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