India have been forced into a late and significant squad change on the eve of their opening match at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with young pacer Harshit Rana ruled out of the tournament due to injury.
The ICC’s Event Technical Committee has officially approved Mohammed Siraj as Rana’s replacement, handing India an experienced option just hours before their campaign begins against the USA on Saturday.
Rana Suffers Knee Injury in Warm-Up Fixture
Rana sustained an injury to his right knee during India’s warm-up match against South Africa on 4 February, and after further assessment, the team management confirmed that the fast bowler will not be able to take part in the tournament.
The 24-year-old was seen as a key pace option in India’s squad planning, but the injury has now ended his World Cup involvement before it could truly begin.
Siraj Returns as India Turn to Experience
In response, India have turned to one of their most seasoned fast bowlers in Mohammed Siraj, who brings a wealth of international experience across formats.
Siraj has represented India in:
- 45 Tests
- 50 ODIs
- 16 T20 Internationals
His inclusion strengthens India’s pace depth immediately, especially with high-pressure group matches coming thick and fast.
Updated India Squad for T20 World Cup 2026
India’s revised 15-man squad now reads:
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh
India Begin Title Defence Against USA
India, placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Namibia, Netherlands and USA, will open their tournament at the Wankhede Stadium against the Americans.
The Suryakumar Yadav-led side are aiming to achieve two historic milestones:
- Become the first team to successfully defend the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title
- Become the first team to win the trophy on home soil
Siraj’s return could prove crucial as India look to start their campaign with momentum despite the late disruption.
