New Zealand T20I Squad vs India 2026: Ravindra Ruled Out
Published on October 6, 2026
Summary Overview: New Zealand's 16-man T20I squad to face India in 2026. Mitchell Santner leads, Milne and Bracewell return, and Rachin Ravindra is out injured. Fixtures in NZ, IST and ET.
World Cup Final Rematch: New Zealand's 16 to Face India, With Dates and Times
Who captains New Zealand?
Mitchell Santner, New Zealand's white-ball captain, leads a 16-player squad.
Who is missing?
Rachin Ravindra is out after dislocating his right shoulder. Fast bowler Ben Sears is also unavailable as he recovers from an ankle injury.
Who is back?
All-rounder Michael Bracewell and fast bowler Adam Milne both return after injuries kept them out of the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
When does the series start?
The first of five T20Is is on Thursday, October 22 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch (8:00 PM local, 12:30 PM IST, 3:00 AM ET).
The Story: A Second Shot at the World Champions
New Zealand have named the squad that will try to settle a score. Earlier this year they reached the T20 World Cup final and lost it to India. Now the same opponents arrive for five T20Is on New Zealand soil, and the hosts have kept most of that World Cup group together.
For readers new to the format: a T20 International (T20I) is the shortest form of international cricket. Each team bats for a maximum of 20 overs (an over is six legal deliveries), and a match takes about three hours. A squad is the full group of players available, and the playing eleven for each match is chosen from it.
Thirteen of the 16 players were part of the World Cup campaign, so this is a settled side that knows its roles. Interest at home is high too, with more than 76,000 tickets reported sold a month before the first ball.
The five matches are packed into 11 days across four cities, and they open a 12-match tour that also includes five ODIs and two Tests.
The Selection Talking Points
Ravindra Ruled Out by a Freak Injury
The biggest blow is the loss of Rachin Ravindra. The left-handed batter, who also bowls spin, dislocated his right shoulder during a promotional shoot and is expected to need around six weeks of rehabilitation.
Head coach Rob Walter said the team was gutted for him and that he should not rush his recovery. New Zealand hope to have him back for the ODI series, which starts on November 4 at Eden Park.
Milne Is Back After More Than a Year
Adam Milne, 34, returns to the squad. He missed the T20 World Cup through injury, and his last match for New Zealand was against Zimbabwe more than a year ago.
Milne is a genuine fast bowler with plenty of know-how. He has played 56 T20 internationals and 243 T20 matches in all, counting leagues around the world.
Bracewell Strengthens the Middle
Michael Bracewell also returns after missing the World Cup with an injury. He is a spin-bowling all-rounder, which means he bats in the middle order and bowls off-spin. With Ravindra out, his return is well timed, because it keeps a second spin option next to Santner.
Sears Still Recovering
Fast bowler Ben Sears was not considered. He is still working his way back from an ankle injury.
Allen and Seifert at the Top
The opening pair looks like the most exciting part of this team. Finn Allen smashed an unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls against South Africa in the World Cup semi-final. Tim Seifert arrives as Player of the Tournament in The Hundred, where he scored 394 runs at a strike rate of 168 (a strike rate is runs scored per 100 balls, so 168 is very fast).
The Full New Zealand T20I Squad
| Role | Players |
| Batters | Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Bevon Jacobs |
| Wicketkeeper-batters | Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert |
| All-rounders | Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Daryl Mitchell, Zak Foulkes, Nathan Smith |
| Fast bowlers | Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne |
(c) captain. 16 players in total.
📄 Download the New Zealand T20I squad and schedule as a PDF to save or share.
Players to Watch
Mitchell Santner (c): The captain is a left-arm spinner who rarely gives away easy runs, and a calm leader in tight finishes.
Finn Allen: One of the hardest hitters in the game. If he lasts six overs, New Zealand are usually well ahead.
Tim Seifert: In the form of his life after The Hundred, and dangerous from the very first ball.
Lockie Ferguson: New Zealand's fastest bowler, used to break partnerships in the middle of an innings.
Matt Henry: Leads the attack with the new ball and swings it at pace, a real threat in home conditions.
Adam Milne: The comeback story of the squad, back after more than a year away.
Bevon Jacobs: A young power hitter, picked to finish innings with big shots in the final overs.
How the Two Squads Compare
India named their own 16 for this series, led by Shreyas Iyer. Here is how the groups line up.
| Area | New Zealand | India |
| Captain | Mitchell Santner | Shreyas Iyer |
| Big Return | Adam Milne, Michael Bracewell | Bhuvneshwar Kumar |
| Key Absence | Rachin Ravindra (injured) | Jasprit Bumrah (rested) |
| Opening Threat | Finn Allen, Tim Seifert | Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson |
| Spin | Santner, Bracewell | Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel |
| Pace Leaders | Henry, Ferguson, Duffy | Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar |
The contrast is clear. New Zealand are strong in fast bowling, with five specialist quicks. India carry more spin, with three front-line slow bowlers. Whichever style suits the pitches better may well decide the series.
T20I Series Schedule (Local, IST and ET)
All five matches start at 8:00 PM New Zealand time. US clocks go back one hour on Sunday, November 1, so the last match starts an hour earlier for viewers in the Eastern time zone.
| Match | Date | Venue | Local (NZDT) | IST | ET |
| 1st T20I | Thu, Oct 22 | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | 8:00 PM | 12:30 PM | 3:00 AM |
| 2nd T20I | Sat, Oct 24 | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | 8:00 PM | 12:30 PM | 3:00 AM |
| 3rd T20I | Tue, Oct 27 | Sky Stadium, Wellington | 8:00 PM | 12:30 PM | 3:00 AM |
| 4th T20I | Fri, Oct 30 | Eden Park, Auckland | 8:00 PM | 12:30 PM | 3:00 AM |
| 5th T20I | Sun, Nov 1 | Seddon Park, Hamilton | 8:00 PM | 12:30 PM | 2:00 AM |
Local time is New Zealand Daylight Time (UTC+13). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). ET is US Eastern Time. Every start falls on the same calendar date in all three zones.
Stat Corner
The Squad in Numbers
| Statistic | Figure |
| Squad size | 16 |
| Players kept from the T20 World Cup squad | 13 |
| Specialist fast bowlers | 5 |
| Matches in the series | 5 |
| Days from first match to last | 11 |
| Host cities | 4 |
| Tickets reported sold a month out | 76,000+ |
Form Guide
| Player | Recent Highlight |
| Finn Allen | 100 not out off 33 balls vs South Africa, T20 World Cup semi-final |
| Tim Seifert | 394 runs at a strike rate of 168 in The Hundred, Player of the Tournament |
| Adam Milne | 56 T20 internationals, 243 T20 matches in total |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is New Zealand's captain for the India T20Is?
Mitchell Santner, who leads a 16-player squad.
Why is Rachin Ravindra not playing?
He dislocated his right shoulder during a promotional shoot and needs around six weeks of rehabilitation. New Zealand hope he will return for the ODIs from November 4.
Who has returned to the New Zealand squad?
Adam Milne and Michael Bracewell, who both missed the T20 World Cup earlier this year with injuries.
Why is Ben Sears missing?
He is still recovering from an ankle injury and was not considered for selection.
Did New Zealand and India meet in the T20 World Cup?
Yes. India beat New Zealand in the 2026 final, which makes this series a rematch.
Where are the matches being played?
Christchurch hosts the first two games, followed by Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton.
Related Guides and Series Coverage
📋 India T20I Squad for New Zealand 2026: Bhuvneshwar Returns After Four Years as Bumrah Is Rested
📋 12 Matches, 3 Formats: India's Blockbuster 2026 Tour of New Zealand