Prasidh Krishna has received the fitness clearance from the Indian side, which could prove to be an advantage for India going forward to the Test series against New Zealand, but he won’t find a place in ODI plans. The fast bowler is likely to be in India A for the concluding four-day match against New Zealand A, starting from November 7, to get ready for the match following his layoff due to injury.
The BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru is set to award the certification to Krishna, following a series of simulation tests over the past two days. He has passed the necessary Return to Play evaluation to be able to get back to playing competitive cricket. The next step for the team will be to get him fit for match action before the senior Tests.
Since he suffered a hamstring injury in the second ODI of the series against West Indies in Guwahati on September 30, Krishna’s workload had been a worry. He was called up for the first three ODIs against New Zealand but was axed from the squad by the BCCI on 30th October, stating that he required more time before becoming fit to play international cricket.
This was a big clearance in a match simulation a week earlier on October 22 that had gone sour. However, the former is likely to be Krishna’s next task and not a five-match ODI series which begins on November 4 against India A.
India will take on New Zealand in its first two Tests that open on November 19 and November 27. Coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill see Krishna as a good option as they are in the World Test Championship final qualification race. Then it will be his India A match, in which he will be able to get back into his rhythm prior to that series, with travel and final arrangements permitting.