India have suffered a big blow in the New Zealand series, and major changes have also been made to their ODI squad. The team has been performing well, winning three matches already, but this tour is increasingly becoming a story of injuries too. Both India and New Zealand have been affected, and the latest developments have put India’s ODI plans under pressure.
Prasidh Krishna Ruled Out of New Zealand ODIs
The biggest setback is that Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out of the five-match ODI series. One of India’s most in-form pacers in recent months, Prasidh is recovering from a hamstring injury and needs more time to build the workload required for competitive matches.
His pace and ability to extract bounce could have made him an important weapon against New Zealand. India will now have to manage without a bowler who could have made a strong impact in these conditions.
Prasidh is expected to join India A for the third and final four-day match against New Zealand A, subject to clearing the Return to Play assessment. That would give him an opportunity to test his fitness, regain match rhythm and prepare for the Test series.
No replacement for him has been announced in the latest squad update.
Nitish Kumar Reddy Available for Only the First ODI
The second major change concerns Nitish Kumar Reddy. CricInformer had earlier reported that he was unlikely to play the entire ODI series. However, his inclusion in the original squads for all five matches had suggested that he would remain available throughout.
The latest update makes his role clear: Nitish will be available only for the first ODI on November 4.
After that match, he will join India A for the third and final four-day game against New Zealand A. The move will help him prepare for the two-match Test series beginning on November 19.
This is another setback for India’s ODI combination. Nitish has looked in good rhythm with both bat and ball, and his all-round ability gives the team greater flexibility. His absence from the remaining four matches will reduce those options.
Mohammed Siraj Joins India A for Test Preparation
Mohammed Siraj will also join India A for the second four-day match against New Zealand A, beginning on October 31, to prepare for the Test series.
Siraj remains named in both updated ODI squads. His India A assignment therefore does not mean he has been withdrawn from the ODI series.
India’s strong T20I performances have given them momentum, but injuries and Test preparations are affecting their ODI plans. With Prasidh unavailable and Nitish leaving after the opening match, the team will have to adjust both its pace attack and its all-round balance.
India’s Updated ODI Squad for the New Zealand Series
First three ODIs: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul (WK), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan (WK), Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy (first ODI only).
Fourth and fifth ODIs: Shreyas Iyer (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (WK, VC), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav.
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