New Zealand have announced a 16-man squad for the five-match T20I series against India, including experienced pacer Adam Milne and all-rounder Michael Bracewell who missed the previous series due to injury. But Rachin Ravindra has been ruled out of the series following a shoulder injury last week.
The series will kick off at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on 22 October with Mitchell Santner in charge. The expanded tour will feature five ODIs and two Tests, a 12-match home assignment for New Zealand.
Ravindra was ruled out of T20’s
Ravindra has been left out of the T20 squad after dislocating his right shoulder during a promotional shoot. New Zealand Cricket stated his rehab will take around six weeks and the all-rounder is aiming to return for the ODI series starting Nov. 4.
His departure takes one of New Zealand’s top batting and bowling players, but the side has kept a lot of the squad that made it to the T20 World Cup final earlier this year. Thirteen of that team are in the new squad.
Bracewell and Milne back
Milne is back in the international fold following injury, which ruled him out of the T20 World Cup. With his inclusion, New Zealand has a seven-man pace group, which includes Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes and Nathan Smith.
Bracewell also gets his shot at the World Cup after missing it due to injury. He’s an extra spin-bowling all-rounder to complement captain Santner.
New Zealand will also be reuniting with their opening pair of Tim Seifert and Finn Allen who were key figures in the World Cup campaign. Allen scored an unbeaten 100 off 33 balls in the semi-final against South Africa and Seifert scored 58 off 33.
Fast bowler Ben Sears is still not fit due to an ankle injury, which he is still rehabilitating. Coach Rob Walter said the depth of the team should enable them to control workloads throughout the series.
New Zealand T20I team
Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert, Nathan Smith.
