Ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, the New Zealand team is grappling with injuries to players. Therefore, young all-rounder Kristian Clarke has been included in the squad for the first three matches of the T20 International series against India, starting January 21st.
New Zealand forced to change their squad
Clarke performed brilliantly in the ODI series against India. He may also get a chance to play in the first T20I to be played in Nagpur, as fast bowler Adam Milne and experienced spinner Michael Bracewell are both battling injuries.
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Adam Milne suffered a hamstring injury while playing in the SA20 domestic tournament in South Africa, while Bracewell recently suffered a calf injury in the third and final match of the three-match ODI series. Both players are part of New Zealand’s squad for the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7. They can prove their fitness in the final matches of the five-match series against India.
Clarke has been included in the squad for the T20 series against India following his impressive performances with the ball in the ODIs, and New Zealand coach Rob Walter said his selection for the T20 matches was completely justified. Walter said Clarke certainly showed his talent in the ODI series, but what was most impressive was his calm demeanor and ability to perform well under pressure.
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Walter explained, “There are a lot of changes happening in our team right now. Some players are returning from injury for this series, while others are joining us directly from franchise cricket. Others are coming from the India ODI series and the Super Smash. We want to ensure we have plenty of pace-bowling options for the first three matches of this series, and this is a great opportunity for Christian to spend some more time with the team on his first tour of India.”
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New Zealand T20I squad (first three matches):
Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Christian Clarke, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Ben Lister, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Will Young.
