Mohammad Siraj Replaces Harshit Rana in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 Squad

New Delhi, February 7, 2026: Fast bowler Mohammad Siraj has been called back into India’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He replaces pacer Harshit Rana, who has been ruled out of the entire tournament because of a serious injury to his right knee.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a press release that Harshit was injured during a warm-up game against South Africa in Navi Mumbai on February 4. He bowled only one over before walking off the field. Doctors did scans and checks, and the medical team confirmed he is not fit to play. The team management has wished him a speedy recovery and promised full support during his treatment.

The BCCI confirmed Siraj’s inclusion in a post on X. The ICC has given its approval for the change. This is welcome news for India’s fast bowling attack. Siraj brings pace, swing, and plenty of experience. He last played a T20 International match in July 2024 against Sri Lanka, but he has been in good form in the IPL and other cricket.

India’s updated squad:  

Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (Vice-Captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, Mohammad Siraj.

India will play their first match today (February 7) at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai against the USA. As defending champions, India will want to win the title again on home ground . Harshit’s injury is a blow, but Siraj’s return makes the bowling stronger. Fans are hopeful the team will do well.

Mohammad Siraj: A Quick Look at His T20 Career

Mohammad Siraj, the fast bowler from Hyderabad, is known for his speed, swing, and fighting spirit. He made his T20 International debut in 2017 against New Zealand in Rajkot.

In 16 T20I matches, Siraj has bowled 58 overs and taken 14 wickets. His best figures are 4/17. His bowling average is 32.29, economy rate is 7.79, and strike rate is 24.86. He has one four-wicket haul and has bowled two maiden overs. With the bat, he has scored 14 runs in four innings.

His last T20I was against Sri Lanka in July 2024. Although he is not a regular in T20Is, Siraj was part of India’s winning team in the 2024 T20 World Cup. He played all matches in the USA leg and helped the team lift the trophy.

In the IPL, Siraj has been excellent. He has played 108 matches and taken 109 wickets at an average of 30.72 and economy of 8.73. His best is 4/17. He is famous for swinging the new ball in the powerplay and troubling top batsmen early. He started with Sunrisers Hyderabad, played many seasons for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and now bowls for Gujarat Titans. He has been a top wicket-taker for his teams several times and is also useful in the death overs.

In all T20 cricket (domestic and international), Siraj has played more than 160 matches and taken over 183 wickets at an average of around 25-26. He is even better in Tests (139 wickets) and ODIs, but his skills with the new ball make him a big plus for India in T20s.

With Harshit Rana out injured, Siraj’s comeback is a boost for the team. Fans are excited to watch him bowl and help India defend the T20 World Cup title.

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Shoaibur Rahman

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