India are scheduled to play a multi-format series against New Zealand later this month, which will see them play five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have already named the team for the T20I matches, which begin on October 22, but the squads for the ODI and Test matches are yet to be announced. Per a recent report, the selectors and team management are looking to include Harshit Rana in both formats of the game, should he recover from the injury in time.

The fast bowling all-rounder is currently recovering from a rectus femoris strain, which has kept him out of India's T20I matches against Afghanistan and the 2026 Asian Games. However, the team management is reportedly considering Rana as an important option for the longer formats of the game, considering his ability to contribute with both bat and ball.

BCCI keen to back Harshit Rana as seam-bowling all-rounder

“The selectors and team management are keen to have Rana in both formats, and he is seen as a perfect fit as the seam-bowling all-rounder batting at No. 8,” was quoted as saying by The Times of India by a BCCI source.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant and fast bowler Prasidh Krishna are also recovering from their respective injuries. It was further mentioned that both players have been given a three-week recovery timeline after reporting to the Center of Excellence (CoE). The BCCI is said to be taking a cautious approach to their rehabilitation and does not want to take any chances with either of them.

“With both Pant and Krishna, the injuries don't look severe at the outset. But the CoE doesn't want to take any chances. That's why both of them were given three-week timelines when they reported to the CoE,” said the source.

Neither Rana nor Krishna has been included in India's T20I squad for the upcoming New Zealand series. However, veteran fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has returned to the national setup, adding to India's pace-bowling options.

Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav and Mayank Yadav are other fast-bowling options available to India. All three are currently a part of the squad for the ongoing five-match T20I series against the West Indies.

India's T20I squad for the New Zealand series

Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav.