Auqib Nabi will play the entire ODI series against New Zealand, replacing the injured Prasidh Krishna

Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi has been added to India’s squad for the first three ODIs against New Zealand, making him the squad for the entire five-match series. Nabi was initially named in the squad for the fourth and fifth matches, but the men’s selection committee has now moved him into the group from the start of the series.

Nabi’s promotion comes after Indian quick Prasidh Krishna was ruled out of the ODI series with a hamstring injury. Prasidh is yet to fully recover from the injury he sustained during the second ODI against West Indies in Guwahati, where he managed one wicket for 45 runs in five overs before retiring from the field.

The 30-year-old was initially named in India’s ODI squad subject to fitness. However, with the team management wanting him to be fully fit for the upcoming Test series, Prasidh will not be traveling for the 50-over assignments.

Nabi has emerged as a possible replacement after impressing during India A’s red-ball series against A in New Zealand. His three-wicket haul in the first unofficial Test at Lincoln, along with the seam movement he produced, caught the eye of touring selectors Pragyan Ojha and Ajay Ratra.

INDIA SQUAD ODI UPDATED FOR FIRST 3 MATCHES

With Nabi moving into the squad for the first three matches, India’s updated squad will be led by Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer will serve as vice-captain. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan are also in the squad.

Updated Indian squad for first three ODIs:

Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper, N. Kuldyepfirmed Siedl), N. ODI only) and Auqib Nabi.

Nabi will also remain part of the squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs. Iyer will lead the team for the final two matches, with Tilak Varma and Kumar Kushagra among the players included in this leg of the series.

PRASIDH’S FOCUS SHIFTS TO THE TEST SERIES

Prasidh’s absence is a setback for India’s ODI plans, but the team management is understood to be prioritizing his recovery for the Test series. The pacer played a significant role in India’s drawn series in England, finishing with 32 wickets in nine Tests and influencing the final match at The Oval.

India have a relatively inexperienced pace attack for the ODI series. Arshdeep Singh, Anshul Kamboj and Nabi will have limited international experience between them, while Mohammed Siraj is the only frontline paceman in the group with more than 50 ODI appearances. Jasprit Bumrah took a break from the series to focus on Tests.

The five-match ODI series against New Zealand begins on November 4.

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