Team India pacer Harshit Rana has once again found himself at the centre of a fitness debate following his injury during the England tour.
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had officially announced that the young fast bowler suffered a Grade 1 right hamstring injury during the third T20I against England, fresh reports suggest that concerns over his fitness and body weight may have contributed to the setback.
According to a PTI report, Harshit Rana had reportedly gained weight during his rehabilitation after recovering from a knee injury that had earlier ruled him out of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Sources quoted in the report claim that he was found to be slightly overweight when he rejoined the Indian squad, raising concerns about whether he had fully regained match fitness before returning to international cricket.
The report further claims that Rana experienced severe cramps while bowling before later sustaining the hamstring injury. It also alleges that the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) cleared him to return despite concerns over his fitness levels. While these claims have been widely reported, the BCCI has not officially confirmed that excess weight or cramps were the direct cause of his injury. The board’s official medical update continues to state that scans revealed a Grade 1 hamstring injury after he reported discomfort during the match.
The episode has reportedly prompted fresh discussions within Indian cricket regarding fitness assessments and return-to-play protocols. According to media reports, BCCI officials want uniform fitness standards to be applied to all centrally contracted players, irrespective of their role or importance to the team.
Harshit Rana’s case comes at a time when Team India has been dealing with a series of injury concerns. Several key players, including Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Sai Sudharsan, and Washington Sundar, have spent time on the sidelines due to injuries, affecting team combinations across formats. The recurring fitness issues have become a concern for the team management, with captain Shubman Gill recently acknowledging that frequent injuries have made it difficult to field India’s strongest playing XI consistently.
As India prepares for a busy international calendar, the focus is expected to remain firmly on player workload management, rehabilitation standards, and ensuring that returning players are fully match-ready before being cleared for international duty.