In a surprise turn of events before the second Test between India and England, young fast bowler Harshit Rana has been dropped from the Indian team and is said to be returning to the country. The decision comes barely days before the Edgbaston Test, set to start on July 2, when India are 0-1 down in the series, which consists of five Tests.

Rana, who wasn't in the initial team, was brought in as a precautionary option owing to slight niggles in the Indian camp. As he was already in England playing for the India A side, the BCCI had him on standby in the event of any frontline pacers getting injured. With no new injury issues, the team management has now decided to let him go.

The 22-year-old did not feature when the Indian team departed Leeds for Birmingham on Wednesday morning. Rana failed to board the team bus that left at about 11:30 AM local time. It was later confirmed by head coach Gautam Gambhir, who stated: ''I haven't spoken to the chairman of selectors yet, but there was a wee bit of a niggle in the group. That's why we wanted him as a cover. But at the moment, all is well, so if everybody is fit, he would have to fly back."

Mixed Reactions Over Rana's Selection

Harshit Rana's elevation had evoked controversy throughout cricket communities, with various fans wondering if his pick was merit-only. Critics expressed that his history with Gambhir at KKR, where Rana has risen to be a key performer in recent IPL years, might have influenced the team to draft him. Others contended that Anshul Kamboj or other domestic entertainers were more worthy based on red-ball performance.

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With India losing the Headingley Test, even though they had scored 835 runs and achieved five individual centuries, questions regarding team decisions have only increased. The loss was a historic first, no team had ever lost a Test after having five hundreds in a match.

England's Record Chase Shocks India

India's defeat was defined by a remarkable run chase by England, which was spearheaded by Ben Duckett's 149, ably supported by good knocks by Zak Crawley and Joe Root. The home side chased down 371, winning the game by five wickets and claiming a 1-0 advantage. The game also yielded 1673 runs, a record total in an India-England Test.

With the squad now in Birmingham and due to rest for two days before training can begin again, everyone's eyes are on how India regroups. The second Test at Edgbaston then becomes a pivotal match for the visitors in their bid to square the series and quell swelling fears.