Rachin Ravindra Ruled Out of T20I Series Against India
New Zealand’s home summer will start without one of its brightest stars.
Rachin Ravindra has been ruled out of the T20I series against India after dislocating his right shoulder during a promotional shoot, a cruelly innocuous setting for such a significant setback. His rehab is expected to take around six weeks, with the Black Caps targeting his return for the ODI series against India, which begins on November 4.
Head coach Rob Walter did not hide the disappointment.
“We’re gutted for Rachin,” Walter said. “He’s going to play a big role for us this summer so it’s important that he doesn’t rush his rehab, but we’re optimistic he’ll be back for the ODIs."
For a player earmarked as central to New Zealand’s plans across formats, it is a jarring early twist to the home season. For the team, it is a test of depth right out of the gate.
Near full-strength, but missing Ravindra and Sears
Ravindra is not the only absentee. Ben Sears, still recovering from an ankle injury, was also not considered as New Zealand named a 16-man squad for the T20I series starting October 22.
Even without that pair, the group has a hardened core. Thirteen players return from the squad that finished runners-up to India at this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, a campaign that reaffirmed New Zealand’s status as one of the most consistent white-ball sides on the circuit.
Among those back in the fold are Michael Bracewell and Adam Milne, both of whom were later sidelined with injuries after that tournament. Their presence instantly sharpens the squad’s edge.
Milne, who last played for New Zealand against Zimbabwe over a year ago, re-enters a pace unit that looks anything but undercooked. He joins Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes and Nathan Smith in a seam attack built for sustained hostility and variety.
Mitchell Santner leads the side, with Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips and Tim Seifert forming a powerful batting and middle-order engine around the all-round strength of Santner, Bracewell and others.
New Zealand squad for India T20Is:
- Mitchell Santner (C)
- 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.
India, sold-out crowds and a statement opportunity
The opposition could not be more fitting for a season opener. India, the current T20 world champions and New Zealand’s conquerors in the World Cup final, arrive with all the weight and glamour that fixture brings.
“It’s going to be awesome to welcome India to our shores and get summer underway,” Walter said. “India is a quality team and a challenging opposition, so to take them on in our own conditions in front of Kiwi fans is really exciting. We hear most of the games are going to be sold-out and it should make for some incredible occasions.
“We’ve got a near full-strength squad that covers all bases and I’m excited to see how we compete against the current T20 world champions.”
The setting is clear: packed grounds, a heavyweight opponent, a Black Caps side close to full power but missing one of its rising stars.
Ravindra will watch this one from the sidelines, counting down to November. His teammates now have the first crack at shaping New Zealand’s summer – and at testing themselves again against the team that denied them the trophy they still believe they can win.
