New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a late change to India’s squad for the first three One Day Internationals against New Zealand, bringing fast bowler Auqib Nabi into the team from the beginning of the series.
Nabi was initially selected for the fourth and fifth ODIs but has now been included in the squad for the opening three matches as well. The five match series is scheduled to begin on November 4.
The Jammu and Kashmir pacer recently impressed during India A’s four day match against New Zealand A in Lincoln, picking up six wickets across the two innings. His performance has strengthened his prospects of contributing to the senior team’s bowling attack during the upcoming series.
Nabi made his ODI debut last month against the West Indies in Guwahati. However, his first appearance in the format proved challenging, as he conceded 84 runs in 8.5 overs.
The revised selection gives the right arm pacer another opportunity to establish himself in the Indian setup as the team prepares for the New Zealand challenge.
Shubman Gill will lead India in the first three ODIs, with Shreyas Iyer serving as vice captain. The squad also features senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, alongside KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan as wicketkeeping options.
The bowling unit includes Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj and Gurnoor Brar, while Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Naman Dhir provide additional options. Nitish Kumar Reddy has been selected only for the opening ODI.
For the fourth and fifth matches, Shreyas Iyer will take over as captain, with Tilak Varma, Kumar Kushagra and Yash Thakur included in the squad for the final two games.
Nabi’s inclusion across all five matches provides India with additional pace bowling depth ahead of the series, which will offer the team an opportunity to assess its combinations and prepare for future international assignments.
India’s Updated Squad for the First Three ODIs
Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice captain), KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy (first ODI only) and Auqib Nabi.
India’s Squad for the Fourth and Fifth ODIs
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper and vice captain), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Arshdeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper), Mohammed Siraj, Yash Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav.