Why Is Harshit Rana Out of the T20 World Cup and How Long Will He Be Sidelined?

India's T20 World Cup plans took a hit after fast bowler Harshit Rana underwent knee surgery that has ruled him out of the tournament and put a large question mark over his Indian Premier League season.

What happened to Harshit Rana?

Rana picked up the injury during a warm-up match against South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium. The issue worsened enough for him to be ruled out on the eve of India's opening World Cup game against the USA.

According to sources, Rana had surgery on Monday to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his knee. The procedure was performed by noted orthopaedic surgeon Dr Dinshaw Pardiwalla at Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.

How long will Harshit Rana be out?

Post-surgery, Rana has been advised a period of rest before beginning structured rehabilitation. He is expected to report

to the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to continue his recovery under supervision.

While exact timelines depend on rehab progress, sources indicate Rana is likely to miss a significant part of the upcoming IPL, if not the entire tournament. Meniscus injuries typically require careful load management, especially for fast bowlers.

What does this mean for India T20 World Cup?

Rana's absence has already forced India into last-minute changes, with Mohammed Siraj stepping in for the World Cup opener. With a long tournament ahead, team management will now have to manage their pace resources carefully.

For Rana, the immediate focus shifts from international action to recovery - with a race against time to salvage any part of his IPL season.