New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has officially signaled a transitional phase for their white-ball squads, announcing a mix of seasoned leaders and fresh faces for their high-stakes tour of India in January 2026. With the T20 World Cup 2026 looming in February, the tour serves as the ultimate litmus test for the Black Caps in subcontinent conditions. While the T20I side sees the return of established stars, the ODI squad has been designed to test depth, featuring two uncapped players and a new captain at the helm. This dual-squad announcement highlights NZC’s careful management of player workloads, balancing franchise commitments and injury recoveries against the need for a full-strength World Cup preparation.
The leadership shift in New Zealand squad: Split captaincy for the India series
In a notable move, New Zealand have appointed separate captains for the two legs of the tour to manage injuries and individual schedules. Michael Bracewell will lead the ODI side, stepping in for Mitchell Santner, who is being rested for the 50-over format as part of a managed return-to-play plan following a groin injury.
Bracewell, who has become a vital all-round cog for New Zealand, will be supported by an experienced leadership group including Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell. However, Santner will return to his leadership duties for the five-match T20I series, a format where his tactical acumen on spin-friendly Indian tracks is considered indispensable. Head coach Rob Walter emphasized that the T20I series is the priority, stating that exposure to subcontinent conditions is vital before the world event begins in February.
“Jayden has been an identified player of interest for some time and has some good New Zealand ‘A’ experience under his belt. He’s consistently been one of the top performers in white-ball cricket domestically for a number of seasons. Playing in the sub-continent is obviously very different to what we’re used to in New Zealand, so any opportunity we can get to expose our guys to those conditions can only be a good thing, especially prior to a T20 World Cup in the subcontinent. Rob Walter, NZ Head Coach, was quoted as saying by Blackcaps.
New Zealand’s white-ball squads for the India series
The squad announcement is headlined by the inclusion of Central Districts left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox, who has earned his maiden international call-up for the ODI series alongside the uncapped Kristian Clarke. Their inclusion follows standout domestic seasons where they were identified as key prospects for subcontinent conditions.
Meanwhile, Kyle Jamieson makes a highly anticipated return to both white-ball squads after a lengthy injury layoff. The T20I squad also welcomes back Matt Henry and Mark Chapman, both of whom are returning from recent calf and ankle injuries. These squads reflect a clear strategy of prioritizing T20 readiness while blooding the next generation of ODI talent during a busy international window.
New Zealand ODI Squad:
Michael Bracewell (c), Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay (wk), Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Will Young.
New Zealand T20I Squad:
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.
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Reason behind New Zealand stalwart Kane Williamson and Jacob Duffy’s absence
The biggest talking point of the announcement is the absence of former captain Kane Williamson from the ODI series. NZC confirmed that Williamson is unavailable for the 50-over matches due to his commitments with Durban Super Giants in the SA20 league, which directly clashes with the Indian tour.
Similarly, Tom Latham will miss the ODI series to remain in New Zealand for the birth of his third child. These absences have opened the door for emerging players like Bevon Jacobs and Tim Robinson, both of whom were rewarded for prolific domestic seasons. The T20I squad will be bolstered further later in the series by the arrival of players like Lockie Ferguson and Finn Allen as soon as their respective franchise commitments are complete.
“Kane Williamson is unavailable for ODI selection due to commitments in the SA20 league. Mitch Hay will keep wicket for the ODI series, whereas Devon Conway will take the gloves for the T20Is. Jacob Duffy and Rachin Ravindra will both sit out the ODI series to allow them to rest after being involved in all cricket since the start of the home summer. Ben Sears has returned from his stint in Melbourne, but was not considered for selection in ODI cricket as he works through his return to play program. Sears is progressing well and is on track to be available for the Super Smash.” New Zealand Cricket said in an official statement.
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