Harshit Rana is set to return to the cricket scene as part of India’s squad for the Rising Stars Asia Cup, a 50-over tournament, in Doha. The 24-year-old fast bowler has been absent since July, last playing for the senior team in England.
The India A squad includes several notable T20 experts such as Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Rinku Singh, and Prabhsimran Singh. Tilak Varma, having recently contributed to India’s T20I series win over New Zealand, will be captaining the side. Rajat Patidar, who has led his team to consecutive IPL victories, serves as vice-captain.
Rana is expected to lead the bowling charge alongside Prince Yadav and allrounder Suryansh Shedge. Notably, Rana is also seen as a significant addition to the batting line-up, capable of delivering at No. 8. Head Coach Gautam Gambhir emphasised Rana’s role, highlighting the need for multifaceted players in the upcoming ODI World Cup in Southern Africa next October.
Despite a planned debut at the T20 World Cup earlier this year, Rana missed out due to a knee injury, subsequently missing the IPL. After a five-month recovery, he rejoined the team for their tour of the UK in mid-year, and his talent has continued to shine, taking wickets consistently in 28 white-ball matches for India. A separate injury set back his participation against Afghanistan in September, but his resilience is evident.
The board is exploring the adaptability of its T20 players to the longer 50-over format. While Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma aren’t currently targeting a spot in the ODI team, their batting potential is promising, reflected in Sooryavanshi’s impressive score of 190 in a mere 13 List A matches.
India A’s spin arsenal for the tournament includes players familiar with both T20 and first-class cricket. Among these are Vipraj Nigam, Delhi Capitals’ legspinner; Harsh Dubey from Vidarbha, noted for his exceptional Ranji Trophy performance; and Tanush Kotian from Mumbai, their lead wicket-taker for the 2026-27 season.
Competing in Group B, India A will face teams from the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, and Pakistan A. Group A consists of Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A, Afghanistan A, and Hong Kong, China. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, scheduled for late November. India A will face arch-rivals Pakistan A on 22nd November.
India A squad for Rising Stars Asia Cup:
– Abhishek Sharma
– Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
– Prabhsimran Singh (wk)
– Tilak Varma (captain)
– Rajat Patidar (vice-captain)
– Rinku Singh
– Kumar Kushagra (wk)
– Suryansh Shedge
– Shahbaz Ahmed
– Vipraj Nigam
– Harsh Dubey
– Tanush Kotian
– Harshit Rana
– Prince Yadav
– Arshad Khan
Keep up with this exciting development in Indian cricket as the Rising Stars Asia Cup unfolds.
