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 fully from a hamstring injury.
The right-arm pacer, whose selection depended on receiving medical clearance, has not yet achieved the fitness levels required for international cricket. He will now continue his rehabilitation while working towards a return to competitive action.
Although Prasidh will miss the entire ODI series, he could return through India A’s upcoming four-day fixture against New Zealand A.
The pacer is expected to feature in the third and final four-day match, provided he successfully completes the Return to Play (RTP) assessment.
The game could prove important in helping Prasidh regain match fitness before India’s two-match Test series against New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj has been included in the India A squad for the second four-day match against New Zealand A, beginning October 31.
All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy will also join India A for the final four-day fixture as part of his preparations for the Test series, scheduled to begin on November 19.
However, Reddy remains available for India’s opening ODI against New Zealand on November 4.
The squad adjustments come as India prepare for a busy international schedule, with several players expected to balance limited-overs commitments and preparations for red-ball cricket.
Shubman Gill will captain India in the first three ODIs, with Shreyas Iyer serving as vice-captain. Senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are also included in the squad.
For the final two matches, Iyer will take over the captaincy, while wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been appointed vice-captain.
India’s pace options for the opening three matches include Arshdeep Singh, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar and Mohammed Siraj, while Kuldeep Yadav provides a spin option alongside Axar Patel.
The squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs features Auqib Nabi and Yash Thakur, with Tilak Varma also included in the batting department.
India A, meanwhile, will be led by wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel in the second four-day match, with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal and Washington Sundar among the notable names.
Prasidh’s absence will be disappointing for India, but the immediate priority remains ensuring the fast bowler returns only after completing his recovery.
His potential appearance for India A could provide an important indication of his readiness for the Test series, giving the team management an opportunity to assess his bowling workload before the longer format begins.
