Harshit Rana To Stay As Unofficial Backup For England Series, Travelled With Indian Team To Leeds: Report

Harshit Rana has been added to the Indian Test squad for the England series but only as an unofficial backup. As per a Cricbuzz report, the KKR fast bowler, who was also a part of the India A contingent, has been asked to stay back and has already travelled with the Indian team to Leeds on June 17. The first Test match will be played at Headingley from June 20.

Harshit Rana To Stay In England As Unofficial Backup

A BCCI source confirmed it to Cricbuzz, “Please don't count him as an official member of the squad as yet.” A few members of the current Test squad are having niggles and as a precautionary measure, Harshit has been asked to fill in. Should he be required to get game time, he would be the 6th pacer after Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep. An official confirmation is still awaited.

Jasprit Bumrah is unlikely to play all five Test matches as the BCCI wants to manage his workload in a bid to keep him fresh for the WTC cycle. After his heroics in Australia, Bumrah will lead the Indian bowling one more time.

Team India Arrived At Leeds Ahead Of Headingley Test

Meanwhile, Gautam Gambhir is expected to join the team as he had returned to India to attend a family emergency. The Indian team was spotted at Leeds Train station and the likes of Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Karun Nair and Bumrah arrived ahead of the first Test at Headingley. Shubman Gill will lead the Test side for the first time while Rishabh Pant has been announced as his deputy. The team management needs o take a perfect call regarding the batting lineup as there will be a few batters juggling for multiple spots as it stands. India finished the last WTC cycle in 3rd position and missed out on a spot in the final.

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