Now Reading: Auqib Nabi Gets Second Shot As India Add Him To ODI Squad Vs New Zealand
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Auqib Nabi Gets Second Shot As India Add Him To ODI Squad Vs New Zealand
Auqib Nabi Gets Second Shot As India Add Him To ODI Squad Vs New Zealand
Auqib Nabi’s wait for a second shot is over. The BCCI has added the young pacer to India’s squad for the first three ODIs against New Zealand, rewarding a stunning India A audition after a punishing debut. He is now available for all five matches of the series.
A Second Chance After a Rough Start
The BCCI confirmed on Saturday that Nabi has been added to the squad for the opening three ODIs. He was originally picked for the last two games against the Kiwis, so his inclusion now makes him an option for the full five-match series.
It is a notable turnaround for a bowler whose international career began in difficult fashion.
A Debut To Forget At Barsapara
Nabi made his India debut during the recent ODI series against the West Indies at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. The occasion, long anticipated, did not go to plan. He struggled to find control and went wicketless.
India then left him out of the playing XI for the third ODI against the West Indies. At that point, another opportunity looked far from guaranteed.
| Nabi’s ODI Debut | Figures |
|---|---|
| Overs bowled | 8.5 |
| Runs conceded | 84 |
| Wickets | 0 |
India A Audition Turns Heads
The selectors clearly saw something more. Nabi has been impressive in New Zealand of late, and his performance in the first unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A stood out.
He picked up three wickets in each innings, finishing with six in the match. For a bowler looking to put a tough debut behind him, it was the perfect response.
| India A vs New Zealand A (1st unofficial Test) | Wickets |
|---|---|
| First innings | 3 |
| Second innings | 3 |
| Total | 6 |
The message from the selectors is clear: one bad day does not define a career. Nabi earned the reward he was desperate for.
Two Captains, One ODI Series
The five-match ODI series gets underway on Wednesday, November 4, and finishes on November 15. The Tests follow, beginning on November 19.
Because of that schedule, India will use two captains. Shubman Gill, full-time captain in 50-over cricket and Tests, leads the side for the first three ODIs. Shreyas Iyer, India’s T20I captain and ODI vice-captain, then takes charge as Gill and a few others begin preparing for the Tests.
Squad For The First Three ODIs
- Shubman Gill (C)
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer (VC)
- 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)
- Auqib Nabi
Squad For The Last Two ODIs
- Shreyas Iyer (C)
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Tilak Varma
- Ishan Kishan (WK, VC)
- Axar Patel
- Naman Dhir
- Auqib Nabi
- Gurnoor Brar
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Arshdeep Singh
- Kumar Kushagra (WK)
- Mohammed Siraj
- Yash Thakur
- Kuldeep Yadav
What Next For Nabi?
Being named in both squads means Nabi is a part of India’s plans across the whole series. Whether he lands a place in the playing XI is another matter, with plenty of pace options in the group.
Still, the opportunity is what counts. A bowler who conceded 84 runs without a wicket now gets a chance to write a very different second chapter, and the series opener on Wednesday is where it could begin.
