Rachin Ravindra Out of India T20I Series: What It Means for New Zealand

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-09-23

New Zealand's T20I series against India just got a lot more interesting—and not necessarily in a good way. All-rounder Rachin Ravindra is out for the first five matches after dislocating his right shoulder during a promotional photo shoot. Yeah, you read that right. A photo shoot. Sometimes cricket finds the strangest ways to test a team's depth. ### The Injury and Return Timeline Ravindra is looking at about six weeks on the sidelines. The injury happened last week, and while it's a tough blow, there's a silver lining: he should be back for the five-match ODI series starting November 4 at Eden Park in Auckland. Head coach Rob Walter didn't hide his frustration. "We're gutted for Rachin," he said. "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." That's the kind of honesty you appreciate from a coach. ### Milne and Bracewell Bolster the Squad With Ravindra out, New Zealand has named a 16-man squad led by Mitchell Santner, and there are two very welcome returns: fast bowler Adam Milne and spin-bowling all-rounder Michael Bracewell. Both missed the T20 World Cup earlier this year through injury, where New Zealand finished as runners-up to India. Their experience will be crucial. Selectors kept 13 players from that World Cup squad, but there are a couple of notable absences. Ben Sears is still rehabbing an ankle injury, and young batsman Tim Robinson didn't make the cut. > "Our priority is winning games and putting the best team on the park, but we also have to keep in mind the volume of cricket in the coming months." – Rob Walter ### A Pace Attack Built for Workload Management Walter and his team have loaded up on seamers—seven in total. Alongside Milne, you've got Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, and Jacob Duffy leading the charge. Young guns Zak Foulkes and Nathan Smith round out the pace unit. Why so many fast bowlers? Workload management. With a packed schedule ahead, Walter plans to rotate his 16 players throughout the series. "We'll look to use all 16 squad members," he said. Smart move, especially with the ODI series and other commitments on the horizon. ### Batting Firepower and a Reunited Opening Pair In the batting department, Bevon Jacobs earns his spot after an unbeaten 62 in his last T20 against Bangladesh. He joins proven internationals like Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, and Glenn Phillips. But the real excitement is at the top of the order: Tim Seifert and Finn Allen are back together for the first time since the T20 World Cup. Remember Allen's 33-ball century against South Africa in the semis? Or Seifert's 58 off 33 in a nine-wicket win? Yeah, that partnership. Seifert comes in hot after winning Player of the Tournament in The Hundred in England, where he racked up 394 runs at a strike rate of 168. If these two click, opposing bowlers are in for a long series. ### Full Squad - Mitchell Santner (Captain) - 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 ### What This Means for the Series Losing Ravindra hurts, no doubt. He's a dynamic player who can change a game with bat or ball. But this squad has depth, experience, and a point to prove after falling short in the World Cup final. The five-match T20I series starts October 22 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, and if you're a New Zealand fan, you've got plenty of reasons to be excited—even without Rachin. For India, it's a chance to test their own depth against a Black Caps side that's hungry and motivated. For neutrals, it's a series that could go either way. And for Ravindra, it's a frustrating wait, but one that should end with him back in the ODI series, ready to make an impact. One thing's for sure: cricket never runs out of plot twists.