New Zealand‘s T20I squad underwent a late change after a historic 2-1 ODI series triumph, the Black Caps’ first ever bilateral ODI series win on Indian soil.
The India vs New Zealand T20I series will begin on January 21 in Nagpur
The action now shifts to the five-match T20I series starting in Nagpur on January 21, followed by clashes in Raipur (January 23), Guwahati (January 25), Visakhapatnam (January 28) and Thiruvananthapuram (January 31). This series serves as a high-stakes final practice for both teams before the game ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 It starts on February 7. Centuries are behind him after taking the ODI decider to 41 in Indore. Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillipsvisitors are riding a wave of unprecedented momentum. But injuries to senior players forced the head coach Rob Walter to adjust the roster in preparation for the shorter format of the tournament.
ODI series win and historic momentum with final preparations
The Kiwis enter the T20I leg with a lot of confidence after creating history in Indore. Their 2-1 win was India’s first ODI series loss at home to New Zealand in 37 years. Virat Kohli‘s brave but unsuccessful 54th ODI century. With the T20 World Cup just weeks away, this five-match series across India is the last opportunity for the Black Caps to finalize their tactical plans. The schedule is deliberately tight, testing the squad’s depth and adaptability in subcontinental conditions.
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The inclusion of the breakout star for the T20I series against New Zealand
After a sensational international debut during the ODIs, the young all-rounder Christian Clarke officially added to the T20I squad for the first three matches. Clarke’s ability to remain calm under pressure was evident as he chased away the top-order Indian batsmen and provided useful runs down the order. Clarke picked seven wickets throughout the ODI series, during which Kohli dismissed him two out of three times. His inclusion is a strategic move to strengthen the pace bowling department, while several senior members are being monitored for fatigue. The coaching staff is keen to see if Clarke can translate his recent success into the 20-over format at the high-scoring grounds of Nagpur and Raipur.
Fitness tests for basic all-round athletes in the form of Michael Bracewell
The team is currently dealing with a fitness crisis involving two of its most experienced all-rounders. Michael Bracewellwho led the ODI side to victory, is nursing a minor left calf strain sustained during the series decider, while veteran seamer Adam Milne is battling a hamstring strain from his last franchise stint. Both players are crucial to New Zealand’s World Cup ambitions and their availability for the second half of this T20I series remains uncertain. Their absence puts additional pressure on the captain Mitchell Santner and returning Rachin Ravindra stabilizing the middle order and leading the spin attack.
New Zealand have updated their T20I squad against India
Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wk), Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ish Sodhi, K3 (Ish Sodhi, K3 games).
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