Auqib Nabi replaces injured Prasidh Krishna in India's first three ODIs

Auqib Nabi has been added to India’s squad for the first three ODIs against New Zealand, taking the place of injured pacer Prasidh Krishna. The BCCI announced on Saturday that the 29‑year‑old seamer from Baramulla will feature in the opening three matches after originally being named only for the last two games. Krishna is sidelined with a hamstring injury, prompting the change. Nabi is only the second cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to wear the national cap, following Parvez Rasool. He made his debut against the West Indies in the second ODI in Guwahati. Over the past two Ranji Trophy seasons he claimed 104 wickets, including 60 in the 2025‑26 campaign that helped Jammu and Kashmir win their maiden Ranji title. The son of a school teacher, Nabi started formal red‑ball cricket after turning 19 and was spotted when he accompanied a friend to state trials. He later says Dale Steyn videos served as his virtual coach. India’s updated squad for the first three ODIs lists Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice‑captain), KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan (wk), Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy (only for the first ODI) and Auqib Nabi.

Context

Jammu and Kashmir has produced only two players for the senior Indian team, making Nabi’s inclusion a notable milestone for the region’s cricket development.