Lagatar24 Desk
NEW DELHI: In a major setback for New Zealand, veteran batter Kane Williamson is set to miss the start of the three-Test series against India due to a groin strain he sustained during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. The injury will require a period of rehabilitation, delaying his departure to India, according to New Zealand selector Sam Wells.
Williamson’s Absence and Recovery Plan
Wells confirmed that the decision to rest Williamson was made to prevent any further aggravation of his injury. “The advice we’ve received is that the best course of action is for Kane to rest and rehabilitate now rather than risk worsening the injury,” Wells stated. The team remains optimistic that Williamson could return for the latter part of the tour if his recovery progresses as planned.
In Williamson’s absence, uncapped batter Mark Chapman has been called up to the squad as cover. Chapman, with an impressive first-class average of 41.9 and six centuries to his name, has earned a regular spot in New Zealand’s white-ball teams.
Confidence in Chapman
Wells expressed confidence in Chapman’s ability to handle India’s spin-friendly conditions. “We believe Mark is one of our best players of spin and has a proven track record in the subcontinent,” he said. “His proactive approach to playing spin, along with his first-class experience, makes him a strong candidate for the challenges we expect in India.”
New Zealand Squad for India Test Series
- Tom Latham (c)
- Tom Blundell (wk)
- Michael Bracewell (1st Test only)
- Mark Chapman
- Devon Conway
- Matt Henry
- Daryl Mitchell
- Will O’Rourke
- Ajaz Patel
- Glenn Phillips
- Rachin Ravindra
- Mitchell Santner
- Ben Sears
- Ish Sodhi (2nd & 3rd Test only)
- Tim Southee
- Kane Williamson
- Will Young
Bracewell’s Departure and Sodhi’s Inclusion
All-rounder Michael Bracewell will play the first Test in Bengaluru before heading home for the birth of his second child. Ish Sodhi will replace him for the remaining two Tests. The squad remains mostly unchanged from the recent series against Sri Lanka, with Tom Latham set to captain the side in his full-time leadership role for the first time.
The coaching team, led by Gary Stead, will include Luke Ronchi and Jacob Oram as batting and bowling coaches, while Sri Lankan spin legend Rangana Herath continues as the spin coach, building on his involvement in the recent series against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
Tour Schedule and First Test in Bengaluru
The New Zealand squad is set to depart for India on Friday ahead of the first Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, scheduled to begin on October 16. The upcoming series promises a tough challenge for New Zealand, especially without their star batter, Kane Williamson, in the early stages.
