IND vs ENG: India Releases Pacer Harshit Rana Ahead of Crucial Second Test at Edgbaston
In a surprising turn of events, young Indian fast bowler Harshit Rana has been released from the Test squad ahead of the second match of the five-Test series against England. The news comes as the Indian team departed from Leeds to Birmingham on Wednesday, with Rana noticeably absent from the contingent heading to Edgbaston, the venue for the next encounter set to begin on July 2.
The 22-year-old speedster, who was initially called up as a precautionary backup due to minor injury concerns within the pace unit, did not board the team bus that left Leeds at around 11:30 am local time. The squad is expected to reach Birmingham in approximately three hours, where they will take a well-deserved two-day rest before resuming training for the critical clash. India, trailing 0-1 after a shocking loss at Headingley, will be desperate to level the series and regain momentum.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir shed light on the situation, stating, ‘I haven’t spoken to the chairman of selectors yet, but I will. There was a minor niggle concern in the group, which is why we wanted Harshit as a backup. However, with everything looking fine now, if the team is fit, he will have to return.’ This indicates that Rana’s release is likely due to the recovery of key pacers and a reduced need for additional cover in the bowling department.
The first Test at Headingley left fans and analysts stunned as India suffered a historic defeat despite piling up a mammoth 835 runs across two innings, including an unprecedented five individual centuries in a single match. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant (who scored centuries in both innings) dazzled with the bat, yet it wasn’t enough to prevent England from pulling off a sensational chase of 371 runs on the final day, winning by five wickets. This marked the first instance in Test history where a team lost despite five centuries in a match.
England’s victory was powered by Ben Duckett’s explosive 149, complemented by gritty contributions from Zak Crawley and Joe Root. The match also set a new record for the highest aggregate runs in a Test between India and England, with a staggering 1,673 runs scored by both sides combined over five days of enthralling cricket.
As India gears up for the second Test at Edgbaston—a venue where they have historically struggled, winning only once in seven attempts since 1967—the focus will be on tightening their bowling attack and avoiding the defensive lapses that cost them dearly in Leeds. With Rana’s departure, the spotlight turns to lead pacers like Jasprit Bumrah, who will need to step up alongside Mohammed Siraj to exploit the swing-friendly conditions often seen at this iconic ground.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for Rohit Sharma’s men as they aim to bounce back and silence critics after the Headingley heartbreak. Will India’s famed batting lineup continue to fire, and can their bowlers finally outfox England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach? All eyes will be on Edgbaston as this fiercely contested series unfolds.