Nagpur, Jan 20 (NationPress) New Zealand has officially included promising all-rounder Kristian Clarke in their squad for the initial three matches of the upcoming T20I series versus India, commencing on Wednesday in Nagpur. This decision comes as seamer Adam Milne and veteran spinner Michael Bracewell are both contending with injuries ahead of the series.

Clarke made a significant impact during his debut ODI series, taking seven wickets, notably dismissing Virat Kohli twice across the three matches while also contributing valuable runs from the lower order and taking two catches in the field.

New Zealand's head coach, Rob Walter, stated that Clarke's selection primarily serves as a precautionary measure to support their fast-bowling unit.

“Currently, we have a lot of player movements with some returning from injuries for this series, others coming in from franchise cricket, and the remainder transitioning from the India ODI series and Super Smash,” stated Walter.

“We want to ensure we have sufficient pace-bowling options available for the first three games of this series, and it’s an excellent opportunity for Kristian to remain with the group a little longer during his inaugural tour of India.

“His talent was evident in the ODI series, but what stood out was his composure and ability to perform under pressure,” Walter remarked.

Walter confirmed that Bracewell has traveled with the T20 squad to Nagpur despite suffering a minor left-calf strain while fielding in the third and final ODI in Indore last Sunday. He will receive treatment and monitoring in the coming days, and a decision regarding his further participation in the tour will be made soon.

In contrast, pace bowler Milne suffered a left hamstring injury while playing for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 on Sunday, and he is currently under evaluation to determine the best course of action for his recovery.

Walter noted that the team arrived in Nagpur in great spirits after clinching the ODI series in Indore.

“Winning the ODI series was incredibly special and historic. There were numerous standout individual performances combined with exceptional teamwork to achieve something unique,” he added.

“With a brief turnaround to the T20 series, we recognize the importance of recovering swiftly and refocusing to be prepared for the opening game on Wednesday night,” he concluded.

New Zealand squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Kristian Clarke (first three games), Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ish Sodhi