India have suffered a setback ahead of their five-match ODI series against New Zealand, with fast bowler Prasidh Krishna ruled out after failing to recover in time from a hamstring injury. The Karnataka pacer will instead join the India A squad for the third unofficial Test against New Zealand A, subject to clearing the Return to Play (RTP) assessment.
The move indicates that India are prioritising Prasidh’s recovery ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series. The right-arm fast bowler sustained the injury during the second ODI against West Indies in Guwahati on September 30, managing to bowl only five overs before leaving the field.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Prasidh needs additional time to build the bowling workload required to return to competitive cricket. No replacement has been announced for him in the ODI squad.
India Prioritise Prasidh Krishna’s Test Fitness
Prasidh’s participation in the ODI series had already been in doubt, with reports suggesting that India’s team management was keen to have him available for the Test matches.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill are understood to be interested in his availability for the red-ball assignments, making a cautious approach to his recovery particularly important.
The decision to send him to the India A setup will provide an opportunity to assess his fitness and match readiness, provided he clears the necessary RTP assessment. However, his participation in the third unofficial Test is not yet guaranteed.
India will begin their ODI campaign against New Zealand on November 4, followed by the Test series, with the first Test scheduled to begin in Wellington on November 19.
The absence of Prasidh adds to India’s pace-bowling concerns, especially with Jasprit Bumrah also missing the ODI series as part of a planned rest.
Nitish Kumar Reddy to Play Only the First ODI
India have also revised allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy’s schedule for the upcoming series. Initially selected for the entire ODI leg, Nitish will now feature only in the opening match before joining the India A squad for the third unofficial Test against New Zealand A, scheduled to begin on November 6.
The decision has been taken to provide him with valuable red-ball match practice before the Test series.
Nitish’s ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him an important option for India’s Test plans. The additional time in the longer format could help him prepare for the demands of the upcoming international assignment.
His departure after the first ODI means India will have to adjust their combination for the remaining matches, depending on the requirements of the team.
India’s Updated ODI Squads for New Zealand Series
The BCCI has announced separate squads for the first three ODIs and the final two matches. Shubman Gill will lead India in the opening three games, while Shreyas Iyer will captain the side in the fourth and fifth ODIs.
Squad for the First Three ODIs
- Shubman Gill (captain)
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain)
- KL Rahul
- Axar Patel
- Naman Dhir
- Anshul Kamboj
- Gurnoor Brar
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Arshdeep Singh
- Ishan Kishan
- Mohammed Siraj
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Nitish Kumar Reddy (first ODI only)
Squad for the Fourth and Fifth ODIs
- Shreyas Iyer (captain)
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Tilak Varma
- Ishan Kishan (vice-captain)
- Axar Patel
- Naman Dhir
- Auqib Nabi
- Gurnoor Brar
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Arshdeep Singh
- Kumar Kushagra
- Mohammed Siraj
- Yash Thakur
- Kuldeep Yadav
The split squads give India an opportunity to manage player workloads while assessing different combinations across the series.
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Mohammed Siraj Joins India A for Second Unofficial Test
In another squad development, fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has been added to India’s A squad for the second unofficial Test against New Zealand A, beginning on October 31 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
Siraj joins a group featuring several players with significant international experience. The Dhruv Jurel-led side narrowly missed out on victory in the first unofficial Test at Lincoln, with New Zealand A managing to secure a draw as fading light brought the contest towards its conclusion.
KL Rahul, who featured in the first match, will not play in Christchurch as he prepares for the ODI series.
Updated India A Squad for the Second Unofficial Test
- Dhruv Jurel (captain)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Sai Sudharsan
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Yash Rathod
- R Smaran
- Washington Sundar
- Mohammed Siraj
- Akash Deep
- Shikhar Mohan
- Mukesh Choudhary
- Mukesh Kumar
- Manav Suthar
- Kumar Kushagra
The inclusion of Siraj strengthens India’s pace attack for the four-day match, while the game offers players an opportunity to build rhythm and prepare for the challenges of Test cricket.
India Balance ODI Preparations with Test Readiness
Prasidh Krishna’s absence and Nitish Kumar Reddy’s revised schedule highlight India’s efforts to balance immediate ODI commitments with preparations for the longer format.
With the ODI series beginning on November 4 and the first Test scheduled for November 19, workload management and match fitness will be important considerations for the team management.
India will hope Prasidh can make a full recovery and return to action after completing the necessary fitness assessments. Meanwhile, Nitish’s red-ball exposure and Siraj’s involvement with India A are expected to support the team’s preparations for the upcoming Test series.
The focus now shifts to the opening ODI, where India will look to begin the New Zealand tour strongly despite the absence of one of their frontline fast-bowling options.