New Zealand has been dealt a massive blow as two key players have been ruled out of the upcoming five-match home T20I series against India due to injury. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pacer Zak Foulkes sustained a right hip flexor injury, while middle-order batter Mark Chapman suffered a hamstring injury in the European T20 League (ETPL) in September.
Batting all-rounder Josh Clarkson and pacer Blair Tickner replace the injured duo in the New Zealand squad.
Kiwi head coach Rob Walter said about the injuries and the replacements (via New Zealand Cricket):
I’m gutted for Mark and Zak, and I wish them both a smooth recovery. We’re fortunate to be able to lean on the expertise of Josh and Blair. I know they’re both very excited to be involved in what’s shaping up to be an epic T20 series.”
Clarkson played in New Zealand’s most recent T20I series against Bangladesh in May. However, Tickner has not played a T20I for the Kiwis since the 2023 away series against Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Foulkes has been one of New Zealand’s reliable pace options, boasting 22 wickets in as many matches at an average of under 29 in T20Is. Chapman, who hasn’t played a T20I since the 2026 World Cup, has played 113 T20Is for New Zealand.
Updated New Zealand squad for the India T20Is
Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Michael Bracewell, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner
New Zealand will be desperate to break their losing run in T20Is against India
New Zealand has struggled against Team India in T20Is in recent years. The Kiwis lost the most recent T20I meeting against the Men in Blue in the 2026 T20 World Cup final by a massive 96 runs.
They have also lost their last five bilateral T20I series to India, winning only two of the 19 matches. New Zealand suffered a 1-4 loss in the most recent T20I series between the sides in India earlier this year.
They have also lost their last two T20I bilateral series against India, with their last T20I series win against the two-time defending world champions coming in 2019.
The upcoming five-match T20I series begins in Christchurch on October 22.
Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran
