New Delhi: With just three days left for the first Test between India and England at Leeds, the Indian cricket team appears set to add fresh firepower to its pace arsenal. According to a report in Dainik Jagran, Harshit Rana is expected to join the national squad as the 19th member for the high-profile five-match series, though an official confirmation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is still awaited.
The Indian squad, led by new captain Shubman Gill and coached by Gautam Gambhir, was initially announced on May 24 with 18 members. The team had a refreshing look following the retirements of veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Among the notable selections were debutant Sai Sudharsan and returning players Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur. The squad already included a potent fast-bowling lineup comprising Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, and Arshdeep Singh.
However, with the team management keen to strengthen its pace depth for English conditions, Harshit Rana’s inclusion could offer a valuable boost. Sources quoted by IANS confirmed that Rana is likely to stay with the Test squad, though it remains unclear if he will be officially listed before the opening match on June 20 at Headingley.
Rana, who was part of the India ‘A’ setup in England, played in the first unofficial Test against the England Lions at Canterbury, where he returned with figures of 1 for 99 and contributed 16 runs with the bat. His overall first-class record includes 48 wickets from 13 matches at an average of 27.79, along with a batting average of 32.80, which includes one century and two fifties.
He made his Test debut during India’s 2024 tour of Australia but managed only four wickets in that series at an average of 50.75, with best figures of 3 for 48 at Perth. Despite being overlooked by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee for the initial England squad, his consistent domestic performances and all-round ability have kept him on the selectors’ radar.
Meanwhile, members of the India ‘A’ side not picked in the senior squad or without county contracts are expected to return home this week. Rana’s continued presence in England indicates that the team management sees potential value in retaining him for the main series.
The upcoming series is significant not just because it marks a new era for Indian Test cricket post-Kohli-Rohit, but also because it opens India’s campaign in the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle. India will play five Tests at iconic venues—Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Oval—in a bid to secure their first Test series win in England since 2007.
India’s Squad for England Tests (as of May 24):
Shubman Gill (Captain), Rishabh Pant (Vice-Captain & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.
If confirmed, Harshit Rana will become the 19th member of this evolving squad, as India embarks on a critical overseas mission with an eye on future dominance in Test cricket.
