Profid Krishna declared fit for Test series against New Zealand

Indian fast bowler Prasad Krishna will be unable to participate in the upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand as he has not fully recovered from a hamstring injury. This was reported by a source within the BCCI to PTI on Wednesday.

The ODI series between India and New Zealand is scheduled to begin on November 4th. Prasad Krishna sustained the injury during the ODI series against the West Indies on home soil. He is currently undergoing a recovery process.

According to information from the BCCI, he has simulated matches and physical fitness tests scheduled at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bangalore on November 1st and 2nd. The BCCI source also noted that the team management and National Selection Committee believe Prasad should focus on full recovery for the Test Cricket matches, as his requirement in this discipline is higher.

Akib Nabi, a fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir, could be included in the Indian ODI squad as a replacement for Prasad Krishna. Akib impressed during the first unofficial Red-Ball match between India A and New Zealand A, which took place in Lincoln. It remains to be seen whether the selection specialists will decide to include Akib Nabi instead of Prasad Krishna or consider other options.

The first ODI will take place on November 4, 2026, in Auckland; the second on November 7, 2026, in Wellington; the third on November 10, 2026, in Hamilton; the fourth on November 13, 2026, in Mount Maunganui, and the fifth on November 15, 2026, in Mount Maunganui.

The first Test match is scheduled for November 19, 2026, in Wellington, and the second for November 27, 2026, in Christchurch.

The Indian squad for the first three ODI tours in New Zealand includes Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Diara, Anshul Kambojha, Guru Nura Barara, Rituraj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav.

For the last two ODI tours in New Zealand, the squad will include Shreyas Iyer (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper and vice-captain), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Naman Diara, Akib Nabi, Guru Nura Barara, Rituraj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper), Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur, and Kuldeep Yadav.

The Indian squad for the Test series includes Shubman Gill (captain), Yashvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Devdhadh Padikala, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)*, Dhruva Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kambojha, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasad Krishna, Akasha Deep, Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohammed Siraj. Note: Rishabh Pant is included subject to receiving fitness clearance.

The India A team suffered a defeat against New Zealand A in the first unofficial test match, where they managed to score only 113 runs in the first half of the game. Among the players who failed to score any runs were K.L. Rahul, Sai Sudarshan, and Washington Sundar; five batsmen remained scoreless.

The situation was complicated by the fact that Simon Keen helped New Zealand A completely break down the Indian attack, taking five wickets. Furthermore, Jack Gibson also made a significant contribution to the defeat of the India A team, securing three wickets. The match between India A and New Zealand A took place as part of a three-match unofficial Test series, starting on October 24th at Bert Sachliff Oval in Lincoln.

Simon Keen, who took five wickets, scoring 24 runs off 11.3 overs with four maidens, had previously not played in any international matches for New Zealand. This all-rounder, aged 29, has a record of 1487 runs and 70 wickets in 31 first-class matches, as well as 361 runs and 32 wickets in 25 List A matches. In 10 T20 matches, he scored 214 runs and took 5 wickets. Keen has played for Auckland, New Zealand A, and New Zealand U19.

Jack Gibson, also a 29-year-old all-rounder, lacks international experience for the New Zealand national team, similar to Keen. He took 3 wickets, scoring 29 runs off 10 overs. Before this match, Gibson had performed in 25 first-class matches, scoring 299 runs and taking 58 wickets. In 38 List A matches, he took 40 wickets and scored 60 runs, and in 23 T20 matches, he has 18 wickets and 18 runs.

New Zealand A decided to start the game with a toss, choosing bowling first. Fraser Shit provided an early success for the team, dismissing K.L. Rahul (0 runs). Yashasvi Jaiswal (17 runs) and Devdutt Padikkal (32 runs) held up the innings for some time, but Jack Gibson ended this partnership by dismissing Yashasvi.

After this, Simon Keen began dismantling the India A attack. Despite the consecutive fall of batsmen, Yashas Rathore managed to stabilize the game. He brought the team's score past 100 runs. Rathore batted without being dismissed, scoring 44 runs off 49 balls, including three sixes and three fours.

Yashas Rathore's attempt to take India A to a respectable score proved insufficient. The first half of India A's innings concluded before two sessions were completed. In the first innings, India A failed to score any runs from K.L. Rahul, Sai Sudarshan, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Choudhary, and Akash Dip. Captain Dhruv Jurel could only score 1 run.

The India A squad included: Yashasvi Jaiswal, K.L. Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudarshan, Dhruv Jurel (captain/vice-captain), Yashas Rathore, Washington Sundar, Anshul Kamboj, Akib Nabi, Akash Dip, Mukesh Choudhary. The New Zealand A squad consisted of: Rhys Marius (captain), Curtis Hifi, Tim Robinson, Matthew Boyle, Dan Foxcroft, Mitchell Hey (vice-captain), Simon Keen, Christian Clark, Fraser Shit, Jayden Lennox, Jack Gibson.

The first match of the three-match unofficial test series between India A and New Zealand A started on October 24th at Bert Sachliff Oval in Lincoln. In the first game, India A faced serious difficulties in batting, as the local fast bowlers did not allow the Indian batsmen to play freely on the grass pitch.

In the first innings, the entire India A team scored only 113 runs. Simen King played a key role, taking five wickets, which put India A in a defensive position. Jack Gibson also achieved three wickets, while Christian Clark and Fraser Smith took one wicket each. Thus, all ten wickets were taken by fast bowlers.

New Zealand A, having won the choice, decided to start with bowling. Fraser Smith secured the first wicket, dismissing Kel Rahul (0 runs). Yashasvi Jaiswal (17 runs) and Devdutt Padikkal (32 runs) stabilized the innings for some time, but Jack Gibson managed to stop this partnership by dismissing Jaiswal.

After this, Simen King began to put pressure on the Indian batting lineup with his spin and accurate length of delivery. The India A players could not form stable partnerships and lost wickets at regular intervals.

Amidst the constant fall of wickets, Yash Rathore took the initiative. He aggressively scored runs and, along with Mukesh Choudhary, built an important partnership of 32 runs for the last wicket. Rathore scored the majority of the runs in this game, bringing the team to a score above 100. He remained unbeaten, scoring 44 runs off 49 balls, including three sixes and three fours.

Despite Yash Rathore's efforts, it was not enough to take India A to a respectable score. The first innings of the Indian team concluded before the end of two sessions. In the first innings, India A players Kel Rahul, Sai Sudarshan, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Choudhary, and Akash Dip could not score any runs. Captain Dhruv Jurel managed to score only 1 run.

The India A squad for the match included: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kel Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudarshan, Dhruv Jurel (captain/vice-captain), Yash Rathore, Washington Sundar, Anshul Kamboj, Akib Nabi, Akash Dip, and Mukesh Choudhary. The New Zealand A squad included: Rhys Marius (captain), Curtis Hiffin, Tim Robinson, Matthew Boyle, Dan Foxcroft, Mitchell Hayes (vice-captain), Simen King, Christian Clark, Fraser Smith, Hayden Lennox, and Jack Gibson.