New Zealand Names 16-Man T20I Squad for India Series

New Zealand Cricket named a 16-player squad for the upcoming five-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series against India, with Mitchell Santner leading the team. This series, marking the BLACKCAPS' first home summer roster, features a seven-man pace attack and begins October 22 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Santner to Captain Squad Against India

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed Santner's captaincy for the white-ball series, which spans 11 days across four cities. This T20I series forms part of India's broader 12-match tour of New Zealand, also including two Test matches and five One Day Internationals (ODIs). Ticket sales for the tour have already surpassed 76,000, one month before the first game.

Key Players Return to Squad Thirteen players from the squad that finished runner-up Thirteen players from the squad that finished runner-up to India in the recent ICC Men's T20 World Cup are included. Pacer Adam Milne and spin all-rounder Michael Bracewell return after missing the World Cup due to injuries. Milne, 34, makes his national team comeback after more than a year, having last played against Zimbabwe. He has participated in 243 T20 matches, including 56 internationals. Pace Attack and Batting Adjustments Milne joins an experienced pace unit comprising Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, and Jacob Duffy, alongside young pacers Zak Foulkes and Nathan Smith. Batting all-rounder Rachin Ravindra will miss the T20I series after dislocating his right shoulder last week, with an anticipated six-week recovery period. Ravindra aims to return for the ODI series against India, scheduled to start November 4 in Auckland.

Openers Seifert and Allen Back Hard-hitting openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen return Hard-hitting openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen return to the top of the order for the first time since their T20 World Cup campaign. Allen scored an unbeaten century off 33 balls, and Seifert contributed 58 off 33 balls in New Zealand's nine-wicket semi-final victory over South Africa at Eden Gardens. Seifert was also named Player of the Tournament in The Hundred, scoring 394 runs with a strike rate of 168, including a match-winning 72 off 38 balls in the final. Pacer Ben Sears was not selected as he continues to recover from an ankle injury. Squad Composition and Series Outlook The full 16-man squad includes Mitchell Santner (C), 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, and Nathan Smith. The inclusion of a strong pace contingent and returning key players signals New Zealand's intent to challenge India. The series will test the squad's depth, particularly with Ravindra's absence from the T20I matches.