India have made a late change to their squads for the upcoming Afghanistan T20I series and the 2026 Asian Games, with Vidarbha pacer Yash Thakur replacing injured fast bowler Harshit Rana.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the change on September 10, with Thakur earning another opportunity at the international level after making his T20I debut during India’s tour of Zimbabwe in July. He will now be part of India’s plans for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan as well as the men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games in Japan.
The Afghanistan series is scheduled to begin on September 13 in Delhi, with the second and third T20Is to be played on September 15 and 17 respectively. All three matches will take place at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium.
Yash Thakur gets another India opportunity
Thakur’s inclusion represents another step forward in what has been an encouraging year for the 27-year-old pacer.
The Vidarbha fast bowler initially broke into India’s T20I setup for the Zimbabwe tour and made his international debut in July. He featured in two matches on that tour and claimed four wickets, giving the selectors another reason to keep him in contention for future assignments.
His domestic record has also played a major role in his rise. Thakur has been a consistent wicket-taker in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and has established himself as an experienced option in India’s domestic T20 circuit.
He has 81 wickets from 50 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy appearances at an economy rate of 7.04, underlining his ability to contribute regularly with the ball.
Thakur was also part of India A’s setup earlier in the year. He was selected for the multi-day tour of Sri Lanka and later featured in India’s wider development pathway, reflecting the selectors’ continued interest in his progress.
His latest call-up, however, gives him a much bigger opportunity. Instead of being part of the India A setup, Thakur will now join the senior team for two important assignments.
Harshit Rana ruled out after fresh injury setback
Thakur’s elevation comes after Harshit Rana suffered another injury setback during his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
Rana had been recovering from a hamstring problem and was expected to return to the Indian squad for the Afghanistan T20Is and Asian Games. However, he sustained a rectus femoris strain while bowling during a match simulation on September 7.
The fresh injury has ruled him out of both assignments and forced the selectors to make a replacement ahead of the Afghanistan series.
The development is particularly disappointing for Rana, who had already spent considerable time on the sidelines because of injury. His latest setback means India will have to look elsewhere for pace-bowling depth during a packed period of T20 cricket.
For Thakur, meanwhile, the situation creates an opportunity to establish himself more firmly within the senior setup.
Bumrah, Nitish Reddy and Washington Sundar cleared
The updated squads also provide clarity over the fitness status of three important players.
Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar had initially been included subject to fitness clearance. All three have now been cleared and will be available for the Afghanistan T20Is.
Bumrah’s availability is particularly significant given his importance to India’s pace attack and the team’s upcoming international commitments. He will now form part of a bowling group that also includes Arshdeep Singh and the newly added Thakur.
The return of Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar also gives captain Shreyas Iyer greater flexibility with the balance of the side. Both players provide all-round options, allowing India to construct a combination suited to conditions in Delhi as well as the subsequent Asian Games campaign.
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Afghanistan T20Is before Asian Games campaign
The three-match Afghanistan series will serve as an important preparation phase for India ahead of the Asian Games.
India will play Afghanistan on September 13, 15 and 17, with all three games being hosted at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The series is officially an Afghanistan home series, although the matches are being staged in India.
India will then travel to Japan for the Asian Games, where the men’s cricket team will look to build on its success from the previous edition.
The BCCI had earlier named Shreyas Iyer as captain and Tilak Varma as vice-captain for the Asian Games squad. The team includes several established T20 players alongside younger members of India’s white-ball setup.
The Asian Games men’s cricket competition is scheduled to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with India entering the tournament as defending champions.
Historic T20I against Japan also on India’s schedule
Before the Asian Games campaign gets underway, India are also scheduled to play a historic one-off T20I against Japan.
The fixture will add another chapter to India’s busy September schedule and provide an additional opportunity for players to gain match practice before the Asian Games competition.
For a player such as Thakur, the sequence of matches could be particularly valuable. Having only recently made his international debut, he now has the chance to work with the senior Indian team across a series of high-profile fixtures.
The challenge will be to make the most of limited opportunities. India’s pace attack already contains established international performers, meaning Thakur will need to make a strong impression whenever he gets the ball.
India’s updated squad for Afghanistan T20Is
The revised 15-member squad will be led by Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma serving as vice-captain.
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Yash Thakur.
The same group, with the relevant tournament composition, will also form India’s squad for the Asian Games, where Thakur replaces Rana as the additional pace option.
A fresh chance for Vidarbha’s pace bowler
Yash Thakur’s latest selection is a reminder of how quickly opportunities can arrive in international cricket.
His journey has been built largely through domestic performances, with his wicket-taking record in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy helping him earn recognition before his Zimbabwe debut. His first international outing produced four wickets in two matches, and he now has an opportunity to take another step forward.
The Afghanistan T20Is will be particularly important because India are entering a period in which squad depth and player workload will remain major considerations.
With Harshit Rana unavailable, Thakur provides another right-arm pace option and adds competition to India’s bowling group.
For the Vidarbha pacer, the immediate objective will be simple: translate his domestic consistency into international performances.
If he can make an impact against Afghanistan and carry that form into the Asian Games, this replacement call-up could become much more than a temporary opportunity. It could mark the beginning of a more permanent role in India’s T20 plans.