Team India’s bid to square the five‑match T20I series against England has taken a heavy hit, with Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy ruled out due to hamstring injuries. The BCCI confirmed the setback ahead of the fourth T20I at the County Ground in Bristol on Thursday, July 9, noting that both players had been assessed by the medical team and would miss the remainder of the series.
Harshit Rana’s return cut short
Harshit’s comeback to the T20I setup was already a story of resilience, having recovered from right knee surgery that sidelined him for over two months and forced him to miss the entire IPL 2026 season. He featured in the second T20I at Old Trafford, taking one wicket but conceding 30 runs in three overs, and followed up at Trent Bridge with two wickets despite leaking 40 runs. His rhythm was returning, but the hamstring injury has now halted his progress once again.
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Varun Chakravarthy’s struggles
Chakravarthy, meanwhile, played both fixtures against England but struggled to contain the opposition batters. His figures of 1/37 at Old Trafford and 0/35 at Trent Bridge reflected a tough outing, and his injury compounds India’s bowling woes at a critical juncture. Chakravarthy had also suffered a left foot injury while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during the IPL.
India’s uphill battle to level the series against England
Already trailing 2‑0 in the series, India face a must‑win scenario in the remaining two matches to salvage a draw. The challenge is steep, especially after their confidence was dented by a 2‑0 defeat to Ireland before arriving in England. With two frontline bowlers sidelined, the team’s hopes of levelling the series have suffered a massive jolt, leaving the management scrambling for solutions.
