Jasprit Bumrah Cleared for Afghanistan T20Is; Yash Thakur Replaces Injured Harshit Rana

India have received a major boost ahead of their upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan, with Jasprit Bumrah declared fit and available for selection. Meanwhile, Yash Thakur has been brought into the squad in place of Harshit Rana, who has suffered a fresh injury during rehabilitation.

Bumrah, along with Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar, had initially been included in India’s squad for the Afghanistan T20Is subject to fitness clearance. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Thursday that all three players have been cleared to participate in the series.

Bumrah had missed the third ODI in England in July as well as India’s subsequent two Tests in Sri Lanka after suffering a recurrence of a left-knee injury. His return provides India with a major boost ahead of a busy period that also includes the Asian Games.

Harshit Rana Ruled Out After Fresh Injury

Rana, who had suffered a hamstring injury during India’s tour of England, has now been ruled out after picking up another setback while undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.

According to the BCCI, Rana had been making good progress before sustaining a rectus femoris strain while bowling during a match simulation on September 7.

“He was progressing well during his rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE). He sustained a rectus femoris strain while bowling during a match simulation on September 7 and has subsequently been ruled out,” the BCCI said in a statement.

Yash Thakur has been named as Rana’s replacement in both the Afghanistan T20I and Asian Games squads.

Yash Thakur Earns Another Opportunity

The 27-year-old Thakur made his T20I debut in July during India’s tour of Zimbabwe. He featured in two matches and impressed with the ball, claiming two wickets in each game.

Thakur was most recently in action for Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final against East Zone. He picked up three wickets in the first innings, including the prized scalp of Ishan Kishan, before taking another wicket in the second innings by dismissing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

The fast bowler has also gained considerable franchise experience, having played four IPL seasons for Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings.

Afghanistan Series Before Asian Games

India will host Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series in Delhi, with the games scheduled for September 13, 15 and 17.

The same squad will then travel to Japan for the Asian Games. India will enter the men's T20 competition at the quarter-final stage on September 28, followed by the semi-finals on October 1 and the final on October 3.

With Bumrah back in the squad and several returning players declared fit, India will be looking to build momentum during what promises to be a busy stretch of T20 cricket.

India’s Updated Squad for Afghanistan T20Is and Asian Games

Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur.