India's cricket team faces a significant setback as frontline bowlers Akash Deep and Harshit Rana will miss the upcoming home series against Afghanistan and the white-ball tour of the UK due to injuries. Akash Deep is recovering from a serious back injury sustained before the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), while Harshit Rana is rehabilitating after knee surgery for a ligament tear incurred during a warm-up match prior to the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup in India. Both players are not expected to regain full match fitness in time for the tours, with their rehabilitation focusing on strength-building and a gradual return to play. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has indicated that the earliest realistic target for their return could be the Duleep Trophy, which marks the start of India's domestic red-ball season in August 2026. This absence will also impact their participation in the Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL campaign.