New Zealand India tour squad:- New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has declared a clear investment in the future, as they named squads for the upcoming India tour packed with fresh faces while resting several key stars.
The selection strategy prioritises building depth for the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup.
For the three-match ODI series in India, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has been rested to manage his workload. Kane Williamson is also not part of the ODI squad. In Santner’s absence, Michael Bracewell has been handed the responsibility to lead the side in the ODIs.
Michael Bracewell named captain as New Zealand ODI squad announced
Apart from Santner and Williamson, Matt Henry, Mark Chapman, and Rachin Ravindra have also been rested from the ODI series against India, as New Zealand wants to keep key players fresh for a long and demanding season ahead, including the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 and WTC 2025-27 matches.
The T20I and ODI squads have seen the return of several senior players, while young and in-form names have been rewarded for their recent performances. Jayden Lennox, Kristian Clarke, Bevon Jacobs, and Tim Robinson are among the emerging players selected for the India tour.
Michael Rae has also found a place in the squad after making his impressive international debut in the second Test against the West Indies. Meanwhile, Kyle Jamieson is all set to play a key role on the India tour, having been named in both squads following his recovery.
NZ T20I squad India: Senior core returns with youthful injection
On the other hand, Mark Chapman and Matt Henry, who are rested for the ODI series, are set to return for the five-match T20I series against India. At the same time, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has decided to rest or carefully manage several players due to injuries and workload concerns.
Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, and Mark Chapman were not picked for the ODI series as they continue their recovery from side, shoulder, and ankle issues, respectively. However, Chapman is progressing well and is expected to be ready for the T20I leg of the India tour.
The NZC said that Ben Sears is still working through his return-to-play program, which kept him out of ODI selection. Well, Williamson will miss the ODI series due to his SA20 commitments. Mitch Hay has been named as the wicketkeeper for the ODI series, while Devon Conway will handle keeping duties in the T20I series against the Indian cricket team.
Coach Rob Walter explains Jayden Lennox’s selection in New Zealand India tour squad
India tour will be a special moment for Jayden Lennox, as the left-arm spinner has received his first-ever international call-up after delivering stunning performances for the A side. The ODI squad also features another new face, with Kristian Clarke having the chance to make his debut in India.
New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said of Lennox’s selection: “Jayden has been an identified player of interest for some time and has some good New Zealand “A” experience under his belt. He’s consistently been one of the top performers in white-ball cricket domestically for a number of seasons.”
New Zealand Squads for India Tour:
ODI: Michael Bracewell (c), Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay (wk), Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Will Young, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, and Henry Nicholls.
T20I: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wk), Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Ish Sodhi.