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Amir Azimi
Cricket

New Zealand Black Caps Squad for India T20s: Milne and Bracewell Return

New Zealand have named a pace-heavy, near full-strength squad to face India at home, with Adam Milne and Michael Bracewell both recalled and a clutch of fresh faces handed a chance against the reigning T20 world champions.

The selectors have doubled down on speed. Milne, 34, is back in Black Caps colours after the frustration of being named in New Zealand’s initial World Cup squad only to be ruled out by injury. He re-joins a seven-strong fast-bowling group built for aggression in home conditions.

Bracewell’s inclusion adds another layer. The allrounder missed the World Cup through injury and his return immediately squeezes the spin-bowling pecking order. There is no space for Cole McConchie, who impressed as an injury replacement on the tours of India and Sri Lanka but now finds himself edged out.

At the top of the order, Finn Allen will again be asked to set the tone. He’s joined by Tim Seifert, whose stock continues to rise after a standout northern summer. Seifert was named player of the tournament in England’s “The Hundred” as he steered Manchester Super Giants to the title, form that has now earned him a Big Bash deal with Sydney Sixers and a prominent role in this Black Caps group.

Rachin Ravindra is the glaring absentee. The breakout star of the World Cup is sidelined by a freak shoulder injury picked up during commercial commitments last week. New Zealand hope he will be fit in time for the five-match ODI series starting at the beginning of November, but for this T20 campaign his spot goes to Bevon Jacobs, one of three players overlooked for the World Cup now drafted in.

Jacobs joins fellow seam options Zak Foulkes and Nathan Smith in a refreshed bowling unit. They slot in alongside established names Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy, giving head coach Rob Walter ample firepower to rotate through the series.

Two World Cup travellers miss out. Ish Sodhi and Jimmy Neesham have both been left out of the squad, a clear sign of the squeeze as New Zealand try to balance spin, seam and batting depth. Ben Sears, another quick on the rise, remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

Walter made no attempt to play down the scale of the challenge.

“India is a quality team and a challenging opposition, so to take them on in our own conditions in front of Kiwi fans is really exciting,” he said, noting that most matches are expected to sell out. The coach believes he has a “near full-strength squad that covers all bases” and wants to see how it stacks up against the current T20 world champions.

There is ambition here, but also calculation. Walter stressed that while winning remains the priority and the best XI will take the field when it matters, the sheer volume of cricket ahead means workload management cannot be ignored. With 16 players named, he expects to use the full squad across the series.

Depth, then, becomes both weapon and safety net. New Zealand will lean on it heavily as they try to unsettle India in their own backyard and sharpen a group that, on paper, looks built for fast starts and sustained hostility.

Black Caps squad to face India (T20):

  • Mitchell Santner (c)
  • Finn Allen
  • Michael Bracewell
  • Mark Chapman
  • Devon Conway
  • Jacob Duffy
  • Lockie Ferguson
  • Zak Foulkes
  • Matt Henry
  • Bevon Jacobs
  • Kyle Jamieson
  • Adam Milne
  • Daryl Mitchell
  • Glenn Phillips
  • Tim Seifert
  • Nathan Smith

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