Prasidh Krishna out of India’s NZ ODIs; Auqib Nabi set to replace him

Prasidh Krishna will miss the five-match ODI series against New Zealand, which starts on 4 November in Auckland, because he has not fully recovered from a hamstring injury. A BCCI source told PTI on Wednesday that the India pacer is out, and Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi is set to take his place.

Prasidh was named on 16 October in the squad for the first three ODIs, subject to fitness clearance. He is also in the Test squad, again subject to fitness.

The injury

Deccan Herald reports that Prasidh pulled the hamstring during the home ODI series against the West Indies. Outlook India says he was hurt in the second ODI and has been recovering since, and that he has been at the BCCI Centre of Excellence for further rehabilitation.

The BCCI source said he is recovering well. A match simulation and a fitness test are lined up at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on 1 and 2 November.

Why the Tests matter

The same source said the team management and the national selection committee want Prasidh fully fit for the Tests, where he is needed more than in ODIs. The first Test runs from 19 to 23 November in Wellington.

Auqib Nabi, the replacement

Nabi impressed in the first unofficial red-ball game between India A and New Zealand A in Lincoln. He is already in India’s squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs, which Shreyas Iyer is due to captain.

What’s next

India play the fourth and fifth T20Is against New Zealand on 30 October and 1 November, both at 12:30 PM IST. The first ODI follows on Wednesday, 4 November, at 7:30 AM IST.