Mohammed Siraj and Nitish Kumar Reddy set for India A stints ahead of NZ Tests
Mohammed Siraj and Nitish Kumar Reddy are set to join the India A squad for their respective four-day matches against New Zealand A, as India look to give the duo valuable match practice ahead of the upcoming Test series.
Siraj will join the India A squad for the second four-day match, which gets underway on October 31. Nitish, meanwhile, will remain with India's ODI squad for the opening match against New Zealand on November 4 before linking up with the India A team for the third and final four-day fixture.
The two-match Test series between India and New Zealand begins on November 19, and the India A fixtures will offer both players an opportunity to get valuable time in the middle before the red-ball assignment.
The latest update also brings a setback for Prasidh Krishna, who has been ruled out of the five-match ODI series against New Zealand. The right-arm pacer, whose availability was subject to fitness clearance, needs additional time to build up his workload after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Siraj's inclusion in the second four-day match against New Zealand A will give him an opportunity to gain match practice ahead of the Test series. The fast bowler will join the squad for the fixture beginning October 31, 2026.
Nitish, on the other hand, will first be available for the opening ODI against New Zealand on November 4. He will then join the India A squad for the third and final four-day match, which is expected to help him prepare for the two-Test series.
Prasidh Krishna will miss the five-match ODI series as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. He needs more time to build the workload required to be ready for competitive matches.
The pacer is expected to join the India A squad for the final four-day match against New Zealand A, subject to clearing his Return to Play assessment. The fixture will provide him with an opportunity to regain match sharpness and work towards being available for the Test series.- Ends
