The Board of Control for Cricket in India has added Auqib Nabi to the squad for the first three ODIs against New Zealand. The right-arm fast bowler was already in the squad for the fourth and fifth matches, so the change means he will now be part of the Indian squad from the start of the five-match series, which begins on 4 November. The BCCI announced the change on 31 October.
The move came one day after Prasidh Krishna was ruled out of the ODI series. The BCCI said Krishna is recovering from a left hamstring injury and needs more time to build up the workload required for matches. Auqib Nabi was the replacement the selectors chose, and his addition keeps India’s pace options covered for the opening matches in New Zealand.
Auqib Nabi and the change to the first three ODIs
In its statement, the BCCI said: “The Men’s Selection Committee has added Auqib Nabi to the squad for the first three ODIs against New Zealand. The right-arm pacer, who was initially in the squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs of the series, will be a part of the Indian squad from the start of the ODI series.” That wording matters because it confirms he is in both squads, rather than being called up for one part of the tour only.
The updated squad for the first three ODIs is led by Shubman Gill. It also includes Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain, KL Rahul as wicketkeeper, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan as wicketkeeper, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy for the first ODI only, and Auqib Nabi. The squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs is led by Shreyas Iyer and includes Tilak Varma, Kumar Kushagra as wicketkeeper and Yash Thakur, alongside several players from the first squad.
Why Auqib Nabi was added now
Prasidh Krishna’s withdrawal forced the change. The BCCI had said on 30 October that Krishna would miss the ODI series to continue his recovery, and that missing the series would allow him to gain match practice and prepare for the Test series that follows. The board added that Krishna will join the India A squad for the third unofficial Test against New Zealand A if he clears his return-to-play assessment.
Mohammed Siraj has a similar stop before the ODI series. The BCCI said Siraj will join the India A squad for the second unofficial Test against New Zealand A, which started on 31 October, while remaining in both ODI squads. The pattern shows the selectors using the A games to keep bowlers match-ready before the white-ball series and the Tests that follow it.
Auqib Nabi: debut, India A spell and what comes next
Auqib Nabi has played one international for India so far. He made his debut in the second ODI against West Indies in September, when he bowled a ten-over spell of 0 for 84. That debut is the only ODI on his record to date, so the New Zealand series is a chance for him to add to a short international career in conditions that often reward seam bowling.
The fast bowler was already in New Zealand when the change was announced. He is travelling with India’s A red-ball squad, and he played in the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A, where he took six wickets. That spell gave the selectors a recent look at him in New Zealand conditions, and it also meant he did not need to travel to join the ODI group.
For now, the confirmed fact is the squad change itself. Auqib Nabi was picked for the last two ODIs first, then added to the first three after Krishna was ruled out. He is in New Zealand, he has recent wickets for India A against New Zealand A, and he will be with the ODI squad from the start of the series on 4 November.