Ananya Lohia , New Delhi - India pacer Harshit Rana has been added to the squad for the third and final ODI against Afghanistan after completing his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the development in an official release on Friday.

Rana had been sidelined since January due to a knee injury that also forced him to miss the T20 World Cup and the entire IPL 2026 season with Kolkata Knight Riders. Having now regained full fitness, the 24-year-old has linked up with the Indian squad in Chennai ahead of the series finale. According to the BCCI, the selection committee decided to include Rana in the squad to help him gain valuable match practice before India's upcoming tours of Ireland and England, as well as the Asian Games.

Rana's return comes despite strong performances from debutants Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar in the ongoing series. Gurnoor has impressed with six wickets in two matches, while Prince picked up two wickets in the second ODI, strengthening India's pace-bowling options. The right-arm pacer last represented India during the ODI series against New Zealand earlier this year and was initially selected for the T20 World Cup squad before injury ruled him out. Mohammed Siraj was later named as his replacement for the tournament.

With the ODI series already secured at 2-0, India now have an opportunity to assess Rana's fitness and form in competitive action before a busy international schedule. His return will provide an added boost to the team's pace attack ahead of the upcoming overseas assignments.