Todd Astle's tour of India is under a cloud after picking up an apparent groin injury in a warmup game.

Todd Astle could miss out on a long-awaited one-day international debut after sustaining an injury in a warmup match in India.

The Black Caps legspinner left the field with an apparent groin injury after bowling just three deliveries of his first over against the Indian Board President's XI on Tuesday (NZ time) at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. Captain Kane Williamson had to complete his over for him.

A team spokesman said he was being assessed by medical staff and the severity of the injury was not yet known.

ANDREW CORNAGA/PHOTOSPORT Ish Sodhi will be in line for an ODI recall if Todd Astle is forced out with injury.

Even a short spell on the sidelines would be a cruel blow for the 31-year-old, who was in line to make his ODI debut when the Black Caps meet India in the first of their three-game series at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.

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He was picked in the ODI squad ahead of fellow legspinner Ish Sodhi.

The Canterburian was consistently among the best domestic bowlers across the formats but, after two tests and two Twenty20 internationals since his debut five years ago, Astle looked to be running out of chances.

That changed with one stunning spell of 4-22 for New Zealand A against India A last week which selector Gavin Larsen witnessed, and said couldn't be understated.

"Nine overs, four for 22 against very good opposition with a damp-ish ball that was hard to control. He didn't bowl a bad ball in that spell. The one and only Rahul Dravid said to me he told his team that he'd just witnessed one of the best legspin displays in Indian conditions. That's some accolade," Larsen said.

But it could now be Sodhi who benefits from Astle's misfortune.

He was picked in the T20 squad for the three T20s later in the tour, but has travelled with the ODI squad as cover and would be the likely replacement if Astle was forced to withdraw.

Astle's injury only compounded what was a poor start for the Black Caps in Mumbai.

The President's XI made it through to 147-0 after 25 overs as Indian openers Prithvi Shaw (66) and Lokesh Rahul (68) pillaged runs for fun.

But they managed a strong comeback, with Mitchell Santner and Sodhi removing both batsman in quick succession. The President's XI eventually made 295-9 after their 50 overs, with Trent Boult ending with 5-38 from nine overs.