India national cricket team have suffered a major setback as two of their frontline fast bowlers, Akash Deep and Harshit Rana, have been ruled out of the upcoming home series against Afghanistan and the white-ball series against England.
Both pacers, who picked up injuries earlier, are yet to fully recover, as confirmed by sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The duo also missed the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, where they are part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad.
A closer look at their injuries
According to a report by the Press Trust of India (PTI), Akash Deep was ruled out of IPL 2026 due to a severe lower-back stress injury. The 29-year-old Bengal pacer is currently undergoing rehabilitation and is not expected to return before September 2026.
Meanwhile, Harshit Rana has also been sidelined with a serious knee injury. The 24-year-old suffered a ligament tear in his right knee during a warm-up match at the T20 World Cup. He underwent surgery in February and is still in the recovery phase.
As things stand, both bowlers are unlikely to make a comeback before the Duleep Trophy 2026, scheduled to take place from August 28 to September 15.
With two key pacers sidelined, India will need to dig deep into their bench strength as they prepare for a demanding international schedule ahead.