Ravindra ruled out with shoulder injury as NZ name pace-heavy T20I squad vs India
Synopsis
Rachin Ravindra is out of the T20I series against India after dislocating his shoulder in a promotional shoot — a blow for New Zealand heading into their first clash with India since the T20 World Cup final. Adam Milne's return after a year and a seven-strong pace battery signal a bold tactical approach from Mitchell Santner's side.
Key Takeaways
Rachin Ravindra has been ruled out of the NZ vs India T20I series after dislocating his right shoulder during a promotional shoot last week.
New Zealand named a 16-man squad led by Mitchell Santner , featuring a seven-strong pace attack.
Adam Milne , 34 , returns to international cricket after more than a year away, having last played against Zimbabwe .
The five-match series begins on 22 October at Hagley Oval, Christchurch , spanning 11 days across four cities .
Ravindra's rehabilitation is expected to take six weeks , with a target return for the ODI series from 4 November at Eden Park, Auckland .
13 of the 16 players named were part of New Zealand's T20 World Cup runner-up squad earlier this year.
Batting all-rounder Rachin Ravindra has been ruled out of New Zealand's five-match T20I series against India after dislocating his right shoulder during a promotional shoot last week, with his rehabilitation expected to take around six weeks. The BlackCaps on 23 September named a 16-man squad for the series, featuring a seven-strong pace attack and the return of Adam Milne after more than a year away from international cricket.
Squad Highlights and Key Returns
Mitchell Santner will captain the side for the series, which spans 11 days across four cities and opens on 22 October at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The pace-heavy lineup includes Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, and young guns Zak Foulkes and Nathan Smith, alongside the returning Milne.
The 34-year-old Milne, who boasts 243 T20 caps — 56 of them at international level — last featured for New Zealand against Zimbabwe over a year ago. Spin all-rounder Michael Bracewell, also returning from injury, adds balance to a squad built around pace.
Ravindra's Injury and Timeline
Ravindra dislocated his right shoulder during a promotional shoot last week, forcing selectors to leave the batting all-rounder out of the T20I campaign entirely. His recovery is targeted at the ODI series against India, which begins at Eden Park in Auckland on 4 November.
Head coach Rob Walter expressed optimism about Ravindra's return for the longer-format series. 'We're gutted for Rachin. 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,' Walter said. Separately, Ben Sears was also not considered for selection as he continues to rehabilitate an ankle injury.
World Cup Reunion at the Top
Openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen will reunite at the top of the order for the first time since their celebrated ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign, which featured one of the greatest T20I chases in New Zealand history. Thirteen of the 16 players named were part of the squad that finished runner-up to India in this year's T20 World Cup final.
First Meeting Since the T20 World Cup Final
The series opener at Hagley Oval will mark the first meeting between the two sides since the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final in March, adding extra context to what is already a high-stakes home assignment for New Zealand. With Ravindra sidelined and Milne back in the mix, how the BlackCaps' pace arsenal performs against India's batting line-up will be one of the defining storylines of the series.
New Zealand squad: Mitchell Santner (capt), 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.
Point of View
And losing him to a promotional-shoot injury days before a marquee home series is the kind of misfortune that stings beyond the cricket field. The choice to load up on pace against India is strategically defensible given New Zealand's home conditions, but it also reflects a side that lacks genuine spin depth without Ravindra in the mix. Milne's return at 34, after 243 T20 appearances, signals that New Zealand's T20 pipeline is still thinner than they would like. The real test arrives not in game one but in the middle overs, where India's aggressive batters will probe whether this pace-heavy unit can contain without a settled spin option.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Rachin Ravindra been ruled out of the NZ vs India T20I series?
Rachin Ravindra dislocated his right shoulder during a promotional shoot last week and has been ruled out of the entire five-match T20I series as a result. His rehabilitation is expected to take around six weeks, with selectors hopeful he will be fit for the ODI series against India beginning on 4 November.
Who will captain New Zealand in the T20I series against India?
Mitchell Santner will captain New Zealand's 16-man squad for the five-match T20I series against India. The series begins on 22 October at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
Why has Adam Milne been included in the New Zealand squad?
Adam Milne has returned to the New Zealand T20I squad after more than a year away from international cricket, having last played against Zimbabwe. The 34-year-old bolsters a seven-strong pace attack that also includes Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, and Jacob Duffy.
When and where does the NZ vs India T20I series start?
The series opens on 22 October at Hagley Oval in Christchurch and spans 11 days across four cities. It will be the first meeting between New Zealand and India since the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final in March.
When is Rachin Ravindra expected to return to the New Zealand team?
Ravindra is targeting a return for the ODI series against India, which begins at Eden Park in Auckland on 4 November. Head coach Rob Walter said the team is 'optimistic he'll be back for the ODIs' but stressed the importance of not rushing his rehab.
