Jammu & Kashmir seam bowler Auqib Nabi is set to replace Prasidh Krishna in India's ODI squad for the first three matches against New Zealand.
The Karnataka man is still recovering from a hamstring injury, which he sustained during the home series against the West Indies. His absence comes at a crucial juncture for the side in their buildup to the 2027 ODI World Cup. With 16 wickets in nine games, Prasidh has been India's leading wicket-taker in ODIs in 2026 and has become a vital cog in India's ODI side.
As reported by News 18, Prasidh's presence in the side is being considered more important for the two-match Test series, which follows the ODI leg of the series. A BCCI source stated that Prasidh will undergo match simulation and fitness tests at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, only after which his clearance can be determined.
“Prasidh is recovering well and he has his match simulation and fitness test lined up at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on November 1 and 2. In any case, the team management as well as national selection committee believes that Prasidh should be fully ready for Tests where he is required more than ODIs," a BCCI source told the press, as quoted by News 18.
Nabi is already present in New Zealand as part of the India A squad, which takes on New Zealand A in three four-day matches. He was one of the standout performers in the first match, claiming three wickets apiece in both innings of the game, and scoring a vital 38 off 63 balls in the second innings. The game, however, ended in a draw, with India A just one wicket away, but the umpires called the game off for bad light.
Nabi had made his ODI debut for India in the second match against the West Indies in Guwahati, and was earlier picked for just the fourth and fifth games of the New Zealand series. He was part of a second-string contingent, with the Test regulars being rested for the final two games. T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer will lead the side for those two matches, in the absence of skipper Shubman Gill, who will take over for the first three matches of the series.
