India vs New Zealand: Prasidh Krishna Sidelined with Hamstring Injury Ahead of Tour

The Indian cricket team has encountered a significant hurdle in their preparations for the upcoming tour of New Zealand. In a development that has concerned the team management, 30 year old fast bowler Prasidh Krishna has been sidelined due to a physical setback. The pacer is currently grappling with a left hamstring injury, which is expected to keep him away from the cricket field for a minimum period of three weeks. This news comes at a crucial juncture as India prepares to face New Zealand in a comprehensive series featuring all three formats of the game.

The Incident During West Indies Series

The injury occurred during the recently concluded series against the West Indies, while specifically, Prasidh Krishna sustained the hamstring strain during the second One Day International match held in Guwahati. During the West Indies innings, the bowler felt discomfort and was forced to leave the field in the 31st over. Before the injury forced him out, he was only able to complete 5 overs of his spell. The severity of the situation became apparent when he was subsequently ruled out of the third and final ODI of that series, which took place in New Chandigarh.

Rehabilitation at the Center of Excellence

Following the injury, Prasidh Krishna has moved to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Center of Excellence (CoE) located in Bengaluru, while he's currently under the supervision of the medical team to begin his recovery and rehabilitation process. According to the medical assessment, it will take approximately three weeks for the bowler to achieve full fitness, while the recovery plan suggests that he will only be able to resume bowling practice at full speed from the fourth week onwards. Given this timeline, the team management is reportedly unwilling to take any risks with his fitness, making his participation in the five match ODI series against New Zealand, which begins on November 4, highly unlikely.

Impact on Domestic and Test Cricket

The timing of this injury also affects his commitments in domestic cricket. Prasidh Krishna will be unable to represent Karnataka in the opening round of the Ranji Trophy, which is scheduled to begin on October 11. Karnataka was set to face Andhra Pradesh in Vijayawada, but they will now have to proceed without their experienced pacer. However, there is a silver lining for the national side. The two match Test series against New Zealand is scheduled to commence on November 19, providing a window of more than a month for his recovery. The primary focus of the team management is now to ensure that he's completely fresh and match fit for the Test matches, prioritizing his long term availability over the immediate limited overs fixtures.