India Releases Harshit Rana From Test Squad After Heavy Defeat Against England

Following India’s dismal performance in the first Test against England at Headingley, young fast bowler Harshit Rana has been released from the squad, sources confirmed on Wednesday. Originally added as a backup option for the Leeds match, Rana did not make the trip to Birmingham for the second Test, which begins on July 4.

The 23-year-old pacer, a protégé of head coach Gautam Gambhir, previously featured in two Tests during the Australia tour but delivered underwhelming results. He was part of the India A side as well, where he managed just one wicket for 99 runs in 27 overs against England Lions in Canterbury — raising questions about his red-ball readiness.

“Harshit Rana has been released from the squad and hasn’t travelled with the team to Birmingham,” a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.

Despite his brief moment of fame — notably the off-cutter that dismissed Travis Head in Perth — Rana’s overall red-ball performance has been inconsistent, and many feel he isn’t quite ready for the highest level.

His selection as cover over more seasoned pacers like Mukesh Kumar or Anshul Kamboj raised eyebrows, especially given English conditions, which demand precision and consistency.

Head coach Gambhir defended Rana’s selection, citing minor fitness issues but admitted a reassessment was due. “Harshit had some niggles. Everything is fine now, but I’ll discuss with the selectors before taking a call,” he said after India’s five-wicket loss in the first Test.

With the pitch in Birmingham expected to assist spin, Kuldeep Yadav is now the frontrunner to replace Shardul Thakur in the playing XI. Former Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar weighed in, saying, “Kuldeep must play. There’s no point in going with four pacers.”

Sanjay Manjrekar echoed the sentiment, adding, “Shardul should be dropped. Kuldeep deserves that spot. India needs to prioritize quality bowlers — even if that means playing two spinners in English conditions.”

Meanwhile, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy’s place is also under scrutiny despite earlier support due to his performances in Australia. Experts believe India must prioritize impact over balance in the squad moving forward.

News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.