Harshit Rana Undergoes Surgery, May Miss Major Part of IPL Too

Mumbai: India fast bowler Harshit Rana’s season has been thrown into jeopardy after he underwent surgery on Monday to repair a knee injury sustained in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup. The procedure, performed by Dr Dinshaw Pardiwalla at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, has officially ended Rana’s hopes of featuring in the ongoing global tournament and now casts serious doubt over his availability for a sizeable chunk of the next Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign.

Rana picked up the injury while bowling in India’s lone warm-up fixture against South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium and was subsequently ruled out on the eve of the hosts’ opening match against the United States. A subsequent scan revealed damage to the lateral meniscus, prompting medical staff to recommend immediate surgical intervention.

“Rana’s surgery was performed by Dinshaw Pardiwalla at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. He was advised surgical repair of the lateral meniscus. Following surgery and a period of rest, he will begin rehabilitation and report to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru,” sources confirmed to TOI.

The 22-year-old’s rehabilitation timeline remains fluid, but insiders warn that the recovery window could extend deep into the IPL calendar. “While Rana has missed the T20 World Cup, he is also likely to be sidelined for a significant portion of the upcoming IPL, if not the entire tournament,” the same sources added.

Rana’s absence will be felt by both the national setup and his IPL franchise, given his recent emergence as a lively pace option capable of bowling in the powerplay and at the death. For now, the focus shifts to his recovery at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, where the medical team will chart a gradual return-to-bowling programme aimed at restoring full strength ahead of a hectic home season.