Devon Conway ruled out of India ODIs with concussion; Nick Kelly called up
Synopsis
Devon Conway becomes the third New Zealand batter ruled out of the India ODI series — joining Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman — after a training collision at Eden Park left him with concussion. With India already leading 1-0 and the second ODI due Saturday in Wellington, New Zealand's injury crisis is deepening at the worst possible moment.
Key Takeaways
Devon Conway has been ruled out of all remaining New Zealand vs India ODIs after sustaining a concussion at training on Tuesday at Eden Park .
Conway and Matt Henry collided while attempting a catch; Henry has been cleared of concussion and may return for the second ODI on Saturday .
Batter Nick Kelly , originally picked only for games four and five, has been called into the squad early to replace Conway.
Mark Chapman (hamstring) and Rachin Ravindra (shoulder) had already been ruled out, making Conway the third batter lost to injury.
India lead the five-match series 1-0 after a five-wicket win in Auckland on Wednesday .
The second ODI takes place at Hnry Stadium , Wellington , on Saturday .
Devon Conway has been ruled out of the remainder of New Zealand's five-match ODI series against India after sustaining a concussion during a training session at Eden Park on Tuesday, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed on Friday. The injury, suffered in a mid-field collision, adds to a growing injury list that has already stripped the Black Caps of two frontline batters ahead of a crucial home series.
How the Injury Happened
Conway and fast bowler Matt Henry collided while both attempted to take the same catch during training at Eden Park in Auckland. Medical staff attended to both players immediately, and head injury assessments were carried out on the spot. Conway's concussion was confirmed, ruling him out of the opening ODI as an initial measure before NZC subsequently extended that absence to cover the entire series.
Henry, however, has been cleared of concussion and is reportedly in contention to return to the New Zealand XI for the second ODI, scheduled for Saturday in Wellington at Hnry Stadium.
Nick Kelly Steps In as Replacement
Batter Nick Kelly, who had originally been selected only for the fourth and fifth ODIs, has been fast-tracked into the squad and was set to assemble with the group on Friday in Wellington to cover for Conway. With Kelly now elevated to the main squad for all remaining matches, Dale Phillips has been named as his replacement in the New Zealand A side for their four-day match against India A, beginning on Saturday.
A Squad Already Stretched Thin
Conway's absence compounds a mounting injury crisis for New Zealand. Batter Mark Chapman had already been ruled out with a hamstring injury, and opener Rachin Ravindra was sidelined with a shoulder problem — both unavailable for the full five-match series. The triple blow leaves the Black Caps' batting resources notably depleted heading into a fiercely contested series against a confident Indian side.
Notably, New Zealand were already managing squad continuity by operating two separate groups — one for games one to three and another for games four and five — before Conway's injury forced an early reshuffle.
India's Tour in Context
India arrived at the ODI leg of their New Zealand tour on the back of a 3-2 T20I series win and immediately extended their momentum with a five-wicket victory in the opening ODI at Auckland on Wednesday. India lead the five-match series 1-0, with the second ODI to follow on Saturday. New Zealand's injury woes only heighten the challenge of mounting a comeback.
New Zealand Squads for the Remainder of the Series
Games 1-3: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert, Nathan Smith, Will Young, Blair Tickner.
Games 4-5: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Kristian Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Lockie Ferguson, Mitch Hay, Nick Kelly, Tim Seifert, Blair Tickner, Will Young.
With three ODIs still to play, all eyes will be on how New Zealand's rejigged batting lineup responds in Wellington on Saturday.
Point of View
And those concerns are now live. India, by contrast, are playing with momentum and a 1-0 lead. Conway's absence removes New Zealand's most reliable accumulator in the middle order, and no amount of squad reshuffling fully compensates for that. The coming three ODIs will test whether Mitchell Santner's side can compete on composition alone.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Devon Conway been ruled out of the New Zealand vs India ODI series?
Devon Conway has been ruled out after sustaining a concussion during a training session at Eden Park on Tuesday, when he collided with Matt Henry while both attempted to take a catch. New Zealand Cricket confirmed the full-series ruling on Friday.
Who will replace Devon Conway in the New Zealand squad?
Batter Nick Kelly has been called in as Conway's replacement and was due to assemble with the squad in Wellington on Friday. Kelly had originally been selected only for the fourth and fifth ODIs of the series.
Is Matt Henry also ruled out after the training collision?
No. Matt Henry was involved in the same collision but has been cleared of concussion and is reportedly in contention to play in the second ODI in Wellington on Saturday.
How many New Zealand batters have been ruled out of the India ODI series?
Three batters have been ruled out in total — Mark Chapman with a hamstring injury, Rachin Ravindra with a shoulder injury, and now Devon Conway with concussion — significantly weakening New Zealand's batting resources.
What is the current state of the New Zealand vs India ODI series?
India lead the five-match series 1-0 after a five-wicket win in Auckland on Wednesday. The second ODI is scheduled for Saturday at Hnry Stadium in Wellington.
