India have added right-arm fast bowler Auqib Nabi to their squad for the first three ODIs against New Zealand, bringing him into the group from the start of the five-match series beginning on November 4. The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the change on October 31, a day after Prasidh Krishna was ruled out because he had not recovered sufficiently from a hamstring injury.
Nabi moves into the opening-match squad
Nabi had originally been named in India's squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs only. The latest selection update makes him available for all five matches, including the opening game in Auckland. The BCCI said the right-arm pacer would now be part of the Indian squad from the beginning of the ODI series.
The move follows Krishna's withdrawal. The Karnataka fast bowler was recovering from a hamstring injury and could not obtain the fitness clearance required for the series. The BCCI had initially listed his selection as subject to fitness, and later confirmed that he needed additional time to build the workload necessary to return to competitive matches.
Krishna is expected to continue his preparation for the two-Test series against New Zealand, with the board previously indicating that he could join India A for the third and final four-day match if he cleared the Return to Play assessment. His ODI absence therefore opened a place in the pace group for the opening matches, with Nabi's availability extended forward.
Recent India A outing adds to Nabi's case
Nabi's inclusion comes after a recent appearance for India A against New Zealand A in Lincoln. He took six wickets across the two innings of the first unofficial Test, giving him recent experience against the same opposition and in New Zealand conditions before the senior team's ODI campaign.
The Jammu and Kashmir pacer made his ODI debut against the West Indies in Guwahati in September 2026. The call-up for the opening three matches gives him an opportunity to be considered throughout the series, although squad inclusion does not guarantee selection in the playing XI. His role will depend on team combinations, conditions and the selectors' assessment of the available bowling options.
India's pace resources for the first three matches also include Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Anshul Kamboj and Gurnoor Brar. Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel provide spin options, while all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is available for the first ODI only.
Updated squads and match schedule
For the first three ODIs, Shubman Gill is captain and Shreyas Iyer is vice-captain. The updated squad also includes Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy for the opening match, alongside Nabi.
The squad announced for the fourth and fifth ODIs has Shreyas Iyer as captain and Ishan Kishan as vice-captain. It includes Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav, along with Iyer and Kishan.
The first ODI will be played in Auckland on November 4, followed by the second in Wellington on November 7 and the third in Hamilton on November 10. The final two matches are scheduled for Mount Maunganui on November 13 and 15. All five fixtures form part of India's tour of New Zealand, which also includes a two-match Test series later in November.
Nitish Reddy's split assignment
Nitish Kumar Reddy is named in the ODI squad for the first match only. After that fixture, he is scheduled to join India A for the third and final four-day game against New Zealand A. The arrangement is intended to provide match practice ahead of the Test series, which begins on November 19.
The squad update therefore reflects more than a straightforward replacement. India have expanded Nabi's availability across the ODI programme while managing Reddy's preparation for the longer format. The selectors have retained the wider squad structure announced earlier in October, with the captaincy change for the final two ODIs already part of the original plan.
The SportsLine angle
For Indian domestic cricket, Nabi's expanded call-up is another opportunity for a fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir to press for a role at international level. His recent six-wicket return for India A offers a useful lead-in, but the next step is converting squad selection into an ODI appearance and performing against New Zealand's batting line-up.
India's opening match in Auckland on November 4 will be the first chance to see whether the team opts for Nabi in its XI. With Krishna unavailable and the series spread across five matches, the selectors have added flexibility to the pace group while keeping the original squad framework largely intact.
Frequently asked questions
Why was Auqib Nabi added to India's squad for the first three ODIs against New Zealand?
The BCCI added Auqib Nabi to the opening three-match squad after Prasidh Krishna was ruled out of the five-match series. Krishna, who was recovering from a hamstring injury, could not secure the required fitness clearance and needs more time to rebuild his workload before returning to competitive cricket.
Was Auqib Nabi already part of India's New Zealand ODI squad?
Yes. Nabi had originally been selected for the fourth and fifth ODIs only. The October 31 update moved him into the group for the first three matches as well, making him available from the start of the five-match series against New Zealand.
When does the India vs New Zealand ODI series begin?
The five-match ODI series begins in Auckland on November 4, 2026. The second match is scheduled for Wellington on November 7 and the third for Hamilton on November 10. The final two matches are scheduled for Mount Maunganui on November 13 and 15.
How has Auqib Nabi performed recently for India A?
Nabi recently played in the first four-day unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A at Lincoln. He took six wickets across the two innings, a performance that came shortly before the BCCI announced his expanded availability for the senior ODI squad.
Who will captain India in the first three ODIs against New Zealand?
Shubman Gill is listed as captain for the first three ODIs, with Shreyas Iyer as vice-captain. The BCCI's previously announced squad for the fourth and fifth matches names Iyer as captain, with Ishan Kishan as vice-captain.