India’s fast bowlers Akash Deep and Harshit Rana are unlikely to recover in time for the upcoming home series against Afghanistan and the subsequent white-ball tour of the United Kingdom, according to BCCI sources. Both players are still undergoing rehabilitation after suffering significant injuries.
Akash Deep has been sidelined with a lower-back stress injury, while Harshit Rana underwent knee surgery after a ligament tear just before the T20 World Cup in India. The duo, both contracted with Kolkata Knight Riders, have already missed the entire ongoing Indian Premier League season.
“Their rehabilitation is progressing well, but they still have a long way to go before they can be cleared to play matches. For the Afghanistan series and the UK tour, there is no chance of either being fit. They are currently working on strengthening routines, followed by jogging, strides, sprints, and then skills associated with the ‘Return to Play’ protocols,” a BCCI source said on condition of anonymity.
Looking ahead, Akash Deep is considered more of a red-ball prospect, while Rana is firmly in contention for ODI and T20I formats. In 2025, Rana emerged as India’s most successful ODI bowler, taking 26 wickets in 14 matches. Akash Deep’s standout performance came during the Anderson-Tendulkar series last year in Birmingham, where he claimed a match haul of 10 wickets against England.
Sources suggest that Akash Deep may require more time than Rana to return to competitive cricket. A more realistic target for both players is the Duleep Trophy, the senior men’s domestic season opener, scheduled for August.