Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy ruled out injured; Prince Yadav, Bishnoi step in
Synopsis
Two injury blows in one match: Harshit Rana's Grade 1 and Varun Chakaravarthy's Grade 2 hamstring injuries — both from the same Trent Bridge T20I — have forced the BCCI's hand ahead of the England ODIs and Zimbabwe T20Is. With India already down 0-4 in the T20I series, the squad reshuffle adds fresh pressure on a bowling unit already under scrutiny.
Key Takeaways
Harshit Rana sustained a Grade 1 right hamstring injury during the third T20I at Trent Bridge and is ruled out of the England ODI series .
Varun Chakaravarthy suffered a more serious Grade 2 left hamstring injury in the same match and is ruled out of the Zimbabwe T20I series .
Prince Yadav (pacer) replaces Rana in the ODI squad vs England ; Ravi Bishnoi (leg-spinner) replaces Chakaravarthy in the T20I squad vs Zimbabwe .
Both injured players will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) for rehabilitation.
India face England in a 3-match ODI series from 14 July , then tour Zimbabwe from 23 July for three T20Is and three ODIs.
India lost the preceding T20I series to England 0-4 .
Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy have been ruled out of India's upcoming white-ball assignments against England and Zimbabwe after both sustained hamstring injuries during the third T20I against England at Trent Bridge. Pacer Prince Yadav and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi have been named as their respective replacements, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed in a statement on Sunday, 12 July.
Nature of the Injuries
According to the BCCI, Rana reported a sudden onset of discomfort in his right hamstring during the third T20I. Subsequent scans confirmed a Grade 1 hamstring injury, ruling him out of the forthcoming ODI series against England. He will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) for further assessment and management.
Chakaravarthy, meanwhile, suffered a more serious blow — an MRI scan revealed a Grade 2 hamstring injury in his left hamstring, also sustained during the same match. Based on specialist medical advice, he has been ruled out of the T20I series against Zimbabwe and will also head to the BCCI COE for rehabilitation.
Who Steps In
Prince Yadav, a right-arm pacer, joins India's ODI squad for the England series in place of Rana. Ravi Bishnoi, the leg-spinner who has been a consistent performer in India's T20I setup, returns to the Zimbabwe T20I squad as Chakaravarthy's replacement. Notably, Prince Yadav also features in the Zimbabwe T20I squad, giving him a chance to press his case across both formats.
Updated Squads
India's ODI squad vs England: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), KL Rahul (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Prince Yadav.
India's T20I squad vs Zimbabwe: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (Vice-Captain), Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Rinku Singh, Harsh Dubey, Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Ravi Bishnoi.
Context and What Comes Next
The injuries arrive at a difficult moment. India had already lost the five-match T20I series to England 0-4, and now face the world's top-ranked T20I side in a three-match ODI series beginning 14 July. The team's bowling resources are under pressure, with two key members sidelined before the first ball of the ODIs is bowled.
After the England ODIs, the Shreyas Iyer-led side travels to Zimbabwe for three T20Is and three ODIs, with the tour kicking off on 23 July. The Zimbabwe assignment is expected to offer fringe players — including the newly drafted replacements — an opportunity to stake their claims ahead of a packed international calendar.
Point of View
Not just a squad management footnote. Chakaravarthy's Grade 2 tear is the more alarming of the two — he had been India's most disruptive white-ball spinner heading into the England series, and his absence leaves a significant gap in the Zimbabwe T20I setup. The broader concern is structural: India are now rotating through replacements before the ODI series has even started, with the Zimbabwe tour — ostensibly a development window — now carrying added pressure. If the BCCI COE cannot return both players fit within the next three weeks, the implications could extend well beyond these two series.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy ruled out of India's squads?
Both players sustained hamstring injuries during the third T20I against England at Trent Bridge. Rana was diagnosed with a Grade 1 right hamstring injury, while Chakaravarthy's MRI revealed a more serious Grade 2 left hamstring injury. Both have been ruled out of their respective upcoming series on specialist medical advice.
Who has replaced Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy in India's squads?
Pacer Prince Yadav has replaced Harshit Rana in India's ODI squad for the England series, while leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi has replaced Varun Chakaravarthy in the T20I squad for the Zimbabwe tour.
What is the difference between a Grade 1 and Grade 2 hamstring injury?
A Grade 1 hamstring injury involves a mild muscle strain with minimal fibre damage, typically requiring a shorter recovery period. A Grade 2 injury, as sustained by Chakaravarthy, involves a partial muscle tear and generally demands a longer rehabilitation timeline under medical supervision.
When does India's ODI series against England begin?
The three-match ODI series against England begins on 14 July. India had previously lost the five-match T20I series to England 0-4 before the ODIs.
When does India tour Zimbabwe and what does the schedule include?
India's tour of Zimbabwe begins on 23 July and comprises three T20Is and three ODIs. The Shreyas Iyer-led side will head to Zimbabwe after the conclusion of the England ODI series.
