The Prasidh Krishna injury has cost India a key fast bowler for the five-match ODI series against New Zealand, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India confirming on October 30 that the seamer has been ruled out. The right-arm pacer, whose participation had been subject to fitness clearance, has not recovered sufficiently from a hamstring injury and needs more time to rebuild his bowling workload before returning to competitive cricket.
What the BCCI announced
In its update, the board said Krishna had been unable to secure a fitness clearance for the limited-overs assignment in New Zealand. He had been named in the original squad on the condition that he proved his fitness, a condition he has now failed to meet. The first ODI is scheduled for November 4 in Auckland.
Krishna has not been written off entirely for the coming weeks. According to the board’s statement, as reported by IANS, he will join the India A squad for the third and final four-day game against New Zealand A, provided he clears a Return to Play assessment. That evaluation is a standard checkpoint in the board’s fitness pathway, and passing it would give him a chance to bowl competitively before the Test series.
Siraj and Reddy to join India A
The announcement also reshuffled the plans of two other squad members. Mohammed Siraj will join India A for the second four-day game against New Zealand A, which begins on October 31, giving the experienced seamer a longer spell of red-ball bowling ahead of the Test assignment.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, the all-rounder, will remain part of the ODI squad only for the opening match. After the game in Auckland, he will leave to link up with India A for the third four-day match against New Zealand A. The aim, according to the board, is to give him match practice before the two-match Test series against New Zealand, which begins on November 19.
What the Prasidh Krishna injury means for India’s attack
The absence of Krishna removes a tall, hard-length fast bowler from a pace group that India will want to keep fresh across a crowded schedule. His withdrawal is likely to place more weight on the remaining seamers in the squad, particularly as selectors balance limited-overs duties against Test preparation.
The board’s statement did not name a replacement in the reports reviewed. One outlet, Telangana Today, listed the uncapped Auqib Nabi among those who had emerged as possible options, but this has not been confirmed by the BCCI and should be treated as speculation until the selectors announce their decision.
A balancing act between formats
The wider picture reflects the demands of managing bowlers across formats. By sending Siraj and Reddy to India A, the team management is effectively prioritising Test readiness for players who are expected to feature in the longer format. Both men will gain exposure to conditions and opposition similar to what they will face in the series that begins in less than three weeks, while the ODI squad adapts around the absences.
For Krishna, the immediate focus is on completing his rehabilitation. His inclusion in the India A fixture is conditional, and the outcome of the Return to Play assessment will determine whether he can use that match to push for a place in the Test squad. A bowler returning from a hamstring problem typically needs to demonstrate that he can bowl sustained spells at full intensity, and the four-day format offers a controlled setting in which to do that.
Outlook
India now go into the New Zealand ODIs without one of their pace options, and selectors will watch closely whether Krishna’s recovery stays on schedule. If he passes his assessment and completes the India A match without discomfort, he may yet return to the national setup in time for the longer format. If not, the Prasidh Krishna injury could become a more significant concern for a squad already managing several fitness and workload questions.
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