India Drop Harshit Rana from Squad Following Pace Struggles in Headingley Defeat

Just a day after India’s defeat to England in the opening Test of the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, pacer Harshit Rana has been released from the squad. The young Delhi fast bowler didn’t travel with the rest of the team from Leeds to Birmingham, signaling a brief end to his stint with the senior side—at least for now.

Rana, who had impressed during India A’s red-ball games against the England Lions, was drafted into the main squad at the last minute as a backup option. It was head coach Gautam Gambhir who hinted at the decision even before it was confirmed. “I haven’t spoken to the chairman of selectors yet,” Gambhir said after the Headingley Test. “There was a bit of a niggle in the group, which is why we wanted Harshit as cover. But if everyone’s fit, then he’ll have to fly back.” 

Rana had made a decent impression during India’s tour of Australia last year, where he picked up three wickets in the first innings of his debut. However, his form tapered off in the second innings and the following match, opening the door for selectors to explore other fast-bowling options. 

India’s pace attack, barring the brilliant Jasprit Bumrah who bagged a five-for in the first innings, looked lacklustre in Leeds. Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Shardul Thakur all struggled with consistency, and England made them pay—especially on the final day when they chased down 371 with 84 balls to spare. It was India’s second-biggest defeat in terms of successful fourth-innings chases conceded. 

Former opener Gautam Gambhir, now at the helm as head coach, acknowledged the gap in experience within the pace group. “We need to give these bowlers time,” Gambhir said. “In the past, we had a settled pace unit where most of the bowlers had over 40 Tests behind them. That experience matters—especially in Test cricket away from home, whether it’s Australia, England, or South Africa.” He added, “We can’t keep switching bowlers after every game. If we want to build a strong attack, we need to back their talent and give them a fair run. Apart from Bumrah and Siraj, the others may still be raw, but they’ve earned their place here.” 

Rana’s departure doesn’t necessarily rule him out of the series entirely, but for now, he’ll return home, while India look to bounce back in the second Test, which starts July 2 in Birmingham. The team’s pace combination remains under scrutiny, and with key decisions to be made ahead of the next match, all eyes will be on how the management recalibrates their approach.