Star pacer returns as India update squad for the third ODI against Afghanistan

India will head into the third and final ODI against Afghanistan with confidence firmly on their side after sealing the series by winning the opening two matches in Dharamsala and Lucknow. With the contest already decided, Shubman Gill and his men will now shift their focus towards completing a 3-0 whitewash when the teams meet at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on June 20.

In a timely boost before the series finale, the Indian camp has welcomed back a key pace-bowling option, strengthening the squad as they prepare for the final fixture.

Star pacer returns after lengthy injury layoff

The BCCI confirmed on Friday (June 19) that fast-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana has been added to India’s squad for the third ODI after successfully completing his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. Having regained full fitness, the 24-year-old has now joined the team in Chennai and is available for selection.

Rana has endured a frustrating few months after suffering a knee injury during a warm-up match against South Africa on February 4. The setback forced him to miss the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year, where he was replaced by Mohammed Siraj, and also ruled him out of IPL 2026, denying Kolkata Knight Riders the services of one of their promising young pacers.

Although he had already been named in India’s squads for the upcoming T20I assignments against England and Ireland, along with the Asian Games in Japan, his inclusion in the ODI squad opens up the possibility of an earlier-than-expected return to competitive cricket.

Rana’s last appearance for India came during the limited-overs series against New Zealand before the T20 World Cup. He impressed in the final ODI of that series by claiming three wickets and producing a valuable unbeaten 52 off just 43 deliveries from No. 8, highlighting his ability to contribute with both bat and ball.

Across 14 ODIs, the right-arm pacer has collected 26 wickets at an average of 27.38 while also showcasing his lower-order batting skills on multiple occasions.

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MA Chidambaram awaits final clash as India chase whitewash

The final ODI in Chennai now presents India with an opportunity to finish the series on a high and maintain their winning momentum. With the series already secured, the team management could consider rotating players and giving Rana an immediate opportunity if they wish to assess his match fitness under international conditions.

As the action shifts to Chennai, all eyes will be on whether the returning pacer makes the playing XI and whether India can complete a dominant 3-0 sweep against Afghanistan before turning their attention to future international assignments.

India’s updated squad for the third ODI: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and the returning Harshit Rana.

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