Prasidh Krishna, the promising Indian fast bowler, will not feature in the upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand as he recovers from a left hamstring injury. Instead, Krishna will join the India A team for their third and final four-day match against New Zealand A, aiming to be battle-ready for the subsequent Test series between the two nations.
According to a statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Krishna needs extra time to handle the physical demands of competitive matches. The board added, “Skipping the ODIs allows him to gain match practice and prepare for the Test series.” This two-Test series is set to start on 19th November, following the ODIs scheduled from 4th to 15th November.
In related news, Mohammed Siraj will lend his experience to the India A side for the second four-day match, providing a boost to the team’s bowling attack. Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar Reddy will initially remain with the ODI squad for their first encounter on 4th November. Post that, he’ll transition to the A squad for the concluding four-day match starting on 7th November. This shift is intended to help him gear up for the Test series as well.
The India A squad for the second four-day game includes the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, and Dhruv Jurel, with the latter leading as captain and wicketkeeper. Mohammed Siraj is among the prominent names joining them.
For the ODIs, Shubman Gill will captain the first three games, with stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli among the ranks. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer is set to lead the side in the fourth and fifth ODIs, ably supported by vice-captain Ishan Kishan. The squads also feature talents like Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel.
Although missing Prasidh might be seen as a setback, it offers him a valuable chance to regain fitness and match sharpness before critical fixtures. Further updates on the squads and player fitness are expected soon.
