Yash Thakur Replaces Injured pacer in India Squad for Afghanistan T20Is, Asian Games

Yash Thakur has been drafted into India's squads for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan and the Asian Games 2026 after Harshit Rana was ruled out with an injury.

The Vidarbha pacer will now have an opportunity to build on his brief international experience when India take on Afghanistan in the T20I series beginning September 13. Thakur has also been included in the squad for the Asian Games, where India are set to feature in the men's cricket competition.

Thakur's selection comes after Rana suffered another setback during his rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence. The Bengal fast bowler, who had been recovering from a hamstring injury, sustained a rectus femoris strain while bowling during a match simulation on September 7, bringing an end to his hopes of featuring against Afghanistan and at the Asian Games.

The replacement represents another opportunity for Thakur, who made his India T20I debut during the tour of Zimbabwe in July. He featured in two matches on that tour and claimed four wickets at an economy rate of 9.37.

The 27-year-old had already put himself on the national selectors' radar with a strong campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last season. Thakur finished with 18 wickets in seven matches, providing an important boost to his case for another India call-up.

The updated squad also includes Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Jasprit Bumrah, all of whom had been awaiting fitness clearance ahead of the Afghanistan series. India are additionally scheduled to play a historic one-off T20I against Japan before the Asian Games on September 22.

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India's Updated Squad for Asian Games 2026

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, Yash Thakur.