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India have suffered a big setback as their star pacer Prasidh Krishna has been ruled out of the third and final ODI against the West Indies after sustaining a hamstring injury.
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Prasidh Krishna out of IND vs WI's 3rd ODI
The setback occurred during the second ODI in Guwahati, where Krishna was forced off the field after bowling just five overs. He will head to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for further assessment and rehabilitation. In his place, Anshul Kamboj has been named as Krishna's replacement in the squad for the final ODI, which is slated to be played at the new PCA stadium in New Chandigarh on October 1.
Prasidh Krishna's injury timeline
Krishna’s international career has been defined as much by his lethal bounce as by a frustrating history of injury setbacks. Known for his high-arm release and seam movement, the Indian fast bowler’s progression in international cricket has repeatedly hit hurdles due to recurring injuries across various formats.
Back Surgery and Major Sidelining (2022–2023)
The most prolonged hit to Krishna’s career occurred in late 2022 when he suffered a lumbar stress fracture in his back. The severe nature of the injury required surgery in early 2023, ruling him out of competitive action for nearly a year—including the entirety of IPL 2023 and the 2023 ICC Asia Cup. Following intensive rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, Krishna staged a return during India's tour of Ireland in August 2023, eventually making his Test debut later that year against South Africa.
Quadriceps Surgery (Early 2024)
Just as Krishna seemed to be regaining his stride, another major setback struck in January 2024. Playing for Karnataka in a Ranji Trophy fixture against Gujarat, he sustained a severe left quadriceps tendon injury. The issue required surgery in February 2024, forcing him out of the high-profile home Test series against England and taking him out of IPL 2024. Another extended stint at the NCA followed to rebuild his strength and bowling mechanics.
Head Impact and Concussion (Late 2025)
Upon making a full recovery and proving his fitness in domestic fixtures, Krishna encountered an unusual setback during an India A match against Australia A in September 2025. While batting, he was struck on the helmet by a bouncer, experiencing delayed concussion symptoms including headaches and dizziness. He was replaced by a concussion substitute, though fortunately, no long-term damage was reported and he quickly resumed training.
Hamstring blow in West Indies Series (October 2026)
Having successfully re-established his place in India's white-ball set-up across mid-2026 tours, Krishna’s bad luck re-emerged during the home ODI series against the West Indies. During the second ODI in Guwahati, Krishna pulled up with discomfort and was found to have picked a hamstring strain. As a precautionary measure, the team management ruled him out of the third ODI against West Indies.
Having endured his share of setbacks, Krishna understands the physical toll of his trade all too well. He once remarked that every fast bowler enters the sport knowing that physical breakdowns and exhausting recovery periods are simply part of the contract.
"I'm not someone who gets excited or nervous about anything. I take it in a balanced way. As fast bowlers, you sign up for injuries, you sign up for hard-working days, you sign up for long days… all that is a part of our game. I mean, it's not easy when everybody is playing a lot of cricket. There's so much happening and you're sitting at home not really being available for selection, but I was optimistic," Krishna had told Cricinfo, after undergoing his back injury in 2023.
"I was a little restless, of course, in the initial phase before the surgery, as to why it was taking so long, especially since I'd started bowling. There were days when I felt great and like "Oh, I'm ready to play", but then after two more sessions I'd realise I need a lot more of these and at the same intensity for the body to condition itself. If I have to look to play at the highest level, the intensity is going to be high. Once the surgery was done, I was prepared that it's going to take time. I changed the way I looked at things. I took it one day at a time. I was enjoying my training, I had a good time with my family. Great things happened. I was very optimistic and positive," he had added.
Team India's never-ending injury riddle
Team India’s persistent struggle with player fitness has once again come to the fore, highlighted by Prasidh Krishna’s recent hamstring strain that ruled him out of the third ODI against the West Indies. Krishna’s breakdown after bowling just five overs in Guwahati is part of a broader, alarming pattern of injuries plaguing the national squad across formats.
The list of impacted players continues to grow. Key white-ball all-rounder Hardik Pandya has suffered extended layoffs due to recurring back spasms and quadriceps strains. Promising seamer Nitish Kumar Reddy faced muscle fiber disruption in his left quadriceps, while pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana have missed crucial assignments following knee reactive swelling and repeated hamstring strains, respectively. Additionally, Washington Sundar and Varun Chakravarthy have recently endured soft-tissue setbacks, forcing team management into constant roster reshuffles.
This influx of recurring breakdowns has sparked intense debate surrounding the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Critics and team management have raised sharp questions regarding the efficacy of the facility's sports science team and clearance protocols, particularly when players relapse shortly after completing rehabilitation. Concerns have also been voiced over potential communication gaps between national selectors, team physios, and the CoE staff.
While CoE head VVS Laxman has defended the institution by making it clear that injuries are an inevitable byproduct of modern cricket's unrelenting calendar, the debate over workload management versus rehab quality remains unresolved.
Anshul Kamboj announced as Prasidh's replacement
Having already clinched the three-match series with a 2-0 lead, India could use the final ODI as an opportunity to tweak their bowling lineup. The central debate for the series finale in Chandigarh revolves around who fills the vacancy created by Prasidh Krishna's injury. Experienced pacer Mohammed Siraj, who sat out the opening two matches, stands as the frontrunner to step directly into the playing eleven.
However, MS Dhoni's CSK teammate Anshul Kamboj, presents another viable option. The 24-year-old was pulled midway through India A’s ongoing four-day fixture against Australia A, where he had already claimed three first-innings wickets, to join the senior squad. Praful Hinge took over his spot in the India A setup as Kamboj rushed to join the main team. While Siraj remains the primary candidate, Kamboj could earn a debut cap if the team leadership chooses to rest Auqib Nabi Dar following his first ODI outing or restructure their seam attack entirely.
Pace crisis mounts, yet Shami remains out in the cold
Amid India's persistent fast-bowling injuries, the debate is only growing as to why team management isn't giving a thought to consider Mohammed Shami. Despite proving his match fitness with dominant domestic performance, including a stellar eight-wicket Ranji Trophy performance, the veteran speedster remains sidelined while selectors test younger options. Shami, a central architect of India’s 2023 ODI World Cup final run, has repeatedly demonstrated that he can still deliver under pressure. However, team management appears intent on prioritising long-term workload management and youth development over experience. This reluctance to recall a proven match-winner during a mounting pace crisis raises sharp questions regarding the committee’s selection priorities.
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