Mitchell Santner and Rashin Ravindra return as New Zealand announces its squad for the T20I series against India

New Zealand They announced their squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Englandstarting in Christchurch on Saturday 18 October. Key talking points from the announcement include the return of star players, both of whom have been sidelined with injuries in recent months.

Mitchell Santner resumes team leadership duties

Mitchell SantnerThe return of the Black Caps is a huge boost for the Black Caps, both as a leader and as an all-round player. The left-arm pacer has missed recent duties while recovering from abdominal surgery but has now been declared fit to captain the side. Known for his calm temperament and tactical acumen, Santner’s leadership was highly regarded in New Zealand’s white-ball line-up. His return not only strengthens the spin department but also provides the much-needed balance in the side ahead of the high-profile T20I series against India.

Rasheen Ravindra returns from a facial injury

Rasheen RavindraWho missed the last series against Australia Due to a facial injury he suffered during training, he makes his long-awaited return. The young all-rounder has been one of New Zealand’s most promising talents, making a name for himself with consistent performances across formats. His ability to contribute with bat and ball adds depth to the middle order and gives the team flexibility in conditions that favor spin. Ravindra’s presence will also ease the pressure on the big players, allowing New Zealand to experiment with different formations during the series.

Injury setbacks continue in New Zealand

While the return of Santner and Ravindra is a big boost, the New Zealanders continue to face several injury concerns. Speedster Ben Sears He was ruled out of the India series after sustaining a left hamstring injury during a training session last week. In addition, the mixture is stellar Kane Williamson He will miss the T20Is as he continues his recovery from a minor medical issue.

Aside from Williamson and Sears, several other key players remain unavailable for selection due to fitness issues. The list includes Look for Allen (foot), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O’Rourke (behind), Glenn Phillips (thigh), and Luke Ferguson (hamstrings).

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James Neesham keeps his place

Despite injury setbacks, New Zealand has largely retained the starting lineup that faced Australia earlier this year. James Neeshamwho excelled with the bat and ball in Ravindra’s absence, retained his place in the team. However, leg spinner Ish Sodhi He was dropped, with the selectors opting for a more balanced attack featuring Santner and Michael Bracewell As rotation options.

The team also includes a mix of experienced names such as Darrell Mitchell, Devon Conwayand Tim Seifertalong with emerging talents such as Zach Foulkes and Tim Robinson. This combination of youth and experience reflects New Zealand’s strategy to test the strength of their bench ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup cycle.

New Zealand squad for England T20Is: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zach Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Darrell Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rasheen Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert (wk)

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