New Zealand’s home summer will start without one of its brightest stars. Rachin Ravindra, the emerging heartbeat of the Black Caps’ batting order, has been ruled out of the T20I series against India after dislocating his right shoulder during a promotional shoot.
It’s a brutal way to miss a marquee series. Not a diving stop on the rope. Not a freak training mishap. A shoot.
Head coach Rob Walter didn’t hide the disappointment. “We’re gutted for Rachin,” he said, underlining just how central the allrounder has become to New Zealand’s plans. The medical timeline is clear: around six weeks of rehabilitation, with the target circled in red — the ODI series against India starting November 4.
No shortcuts. No rush. New Zealand want him fit for the long haul of the summer.
Ravindra out, pace battery loaded
While Ravindra watches from the sidelines, New Zealand have named a 16-man squad for the T20Is beginning October 22, with another quick also missing. Ben Sears, still working back from an ankle injury, was not considered for selection.
The rest of the list is stacked.
Thirteen players return from the squad that finished runners-up to India at this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. That core brings familiarity, scars, and motivation. Among them are Michael Bracewell and Adam Milne, both of whom had slipped out of the frame with injuries but now rejoin the frontline group.
Milne’s return is particularly notable. He last played for New Zealand more than a year ago, against Zimbabwe. Now he slots into a pace unit that has real bite: Lockie Ferguson’s raw speed, Matt Henry’s relentless discipline, Kyle Jamieson’s awkward bounce, Jacob Duffy’s accuracy, Zak Foulkes’ promise, and Nathan Smith’s versatility. Add Milne, and it’s a seam attack built to test even India’s heavyweight batting.
Mitchell Santner will lead the side, his left-arm spin and calm presence again at the centre of New Zealand’s white-ball plans. Around him, there is power and variety: Finn Allen’s aggression at the top, Devon Conway’s class, the middle-order punch of Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips, and Tim Seifert’s experience with the gloves. Michael Bracewell’s all-round skill gives Santner another spinning option and extra batting depth.
New Zealand squad:
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 arrive, stands fill, stakes rise
For Walter, this is the kind of series you build a summer around.
“It’s going to be awesome to welcome India to our shores and get summer underway,” he said. The word “awesome” doesn’t feel like a throwaway line. India are the current T20 world champions, a side New Zealand know all too well after that World Cup final defeat. Now they walk into New Zealand conditions, in front of sold-out crowds, with a home side close to full strength.
“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,” Walter added. The expectation is that most games will be played in front of packed houses, the kind of noise and colour that lifts a bilateral series out of the ordinary.
Walter likes what he sees in his group. “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.”
Ravindra won’t be there when the first ball is bowled in the T20Is. But when India stay on for the ODIs in November, New Zealand hope one of their key men will be back, shoulder healed, ready to change the shape of the contest.
