Harshit Rana retained in England as unofficial backup

INDIA'S TOUR OF ENGLAND, 2025

Harshit Rana retained in England as unofficial backup

by Vijay Tagore • Last updated on

Harshit Rana is with the Indian team in Leeds, the venue for the first Test. © Getty

Harishit Rana, who has been retained in England, is only an unofficial member of the Indian squad as of now. A top Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official has confirmed to Cricbuzz that Rana is staying with the Indian team as a cover for a few players who apparently are having a few niggles. He has still not been, officially, co-opted into the squad.

Who are the players with niggles has not been disclosed, but it has been confirmed to this website that Rana (23), who has featured in two Tests, five ODIs and one T20I, has been retained only as a back-up. He travelled with the Indian team to Leeds, the venue of the first Test, on Tuesday (June 17) from London on Tuesday (June 17).

"Please don't count him as an official member of the squad as yet," the official said.

In the 18-member Shubman Gill-led touring squad, there are five like-for-like specialist fast bowlers - Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh - and two pace-bowling all-rounders - Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur.

Rana was part of the India A squad which played two matches against England Lions and was involved in an intra-squad match in Beckenham recently. The other members of the India team are believed to have been on their way back home.

Gambhir leaves for England

Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir is expected to rejoin the squad soon, most likely on Tuesday itself. The head coach had returned home to New Delhi from the UK due to a family emergency but is understood to have since departed from the national capital for London on Tuesday morning. Although he had not rejoined the team at the time of filing this report, he is expected to link-up with the squad shortly.

The first Test between England and India, for the newly-named Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, will start on Friday (June 20) in Leeds. There will be four other Tests, at Edgbaston (from July 2), at Lord's (from July 10), at Old Trafford in Manchester (from July 23) and finally at the Oval (from July 31).

© Cricbuzz

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