New Zealand have unveiled a refreshed and forward-looking squad for their upcoming white-ball tour of India, naming several new faces alongside experienced campaigners as they balance immediate results with long-term planning.
The tour will consist of three ODIs followed by five T20Is, with the shorter format series carrying added importance as preparation for the Men’s T20 World Cup scheduled for February-March 2026.
---Advertisement---
Jaden Lennox earns maiden call-up
The biggest talking point from the squad announcement is the inclusion of Central Districts left-arm spinner Jaden Lennox, who has been rewarded with his first call-up to the national side. Lennox has quietly built a strong case through consistent performances in domestic cricket and for New Zealand A.
---Advertisement---
Head coach Rob Walter confirmed that the selectors have been tracking Lennox’s progress for some time.
“Jayden has been on our radar for a while,” Walter said. “He’s got significant experience with New Zealand A and has been a consistent top performer in domestic white-ball cricket over the past several seasons.”
Lennox isn’t the only new name. Christian Clarke is also in the squad despite being uncapped, while emerging players Adi Ashok, Josh Clarkson, Nick Kelly, and recent Test debutant Michael Ray highlight New Zealand’s intent to build depth across formats.
Jamieson back, Santner carefully managed
There’s good news on the injury front as Kyle Jamieson returns to both ODI and T20I squads after recovering from injury. His comeback adds much-needed pace and bounce, especially in Indian conditions where variation and control become crucial.
Mitchell Santner, meanwhile, has been named only in the T20I squad as part of a managed return from a groin injury. New Zealand are clearly being cautious with one of their most valuable all-rounders, prioritising fitness over workload.
Bracewell to lead ODI side
With senior players unavailable, Michael Bracewell will captain the ODI team. He’ll be backed by a solid leadership group that includes Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Will Young, and Henry Nicholls, ensuring experience isn’t entirely missing from the dressing room.
Kane Williamson will miss the series due to his commitments in the SA20 league, while Test captain Tom Latham will remain in New Zealand for the birth of his third child, ruling him out of the ODIs.
Injury setbacks and returns
New Zealand have also had to work around a few injury concerns. Matt Henry is still recovering and won’t feature in the ODI series, though he’s expected to be fit in time for the T20Is. Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, and Mark Chapman were not selected for the ODIs due to injury, with Chapman potentially returning for the T20 leg.
For the T20Is, Santner, Chapman, and Henry are all set to return, strengthening a squad that looks clearly geared towards World Cup conditions.
Domestic form rewarded
Strong domestic performances haven’t gone unnoticed. Bevon Jacobs and Tim Robinson have earned call-ups after impressive runs at home. Jacobs has averaged 54 across his last seven innings, while Robinson has gone even better, averaging over 60 in his last nine.
Experienced campaigners James Neesham and Ish Sodhi also make their return following solid overseas and domestic outings. Meanwhile, Jacob Duffy and Jack Foulkes, both recently contracted to IPL franchises, have been selected after standout domestic seasons. For Foulkes, the India tour will mark his first T20I appearance.
New Zealand ODI squad
Michael Bracewell (c), Adi Ashok, Christian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway (wk), Jack Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Ray, Will Young.
New Zealand T20 team
Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wk), Jacob Duffy, Jack Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ish Sodhi.
Also Read: Jemimah Rodrigues named Delhi Capitals Captain for WPL 2026 after World Cup heroics