Santner Leads NZ T20 Squad to India; Williamson Rested for World Cup Prep

New Zealand has announced its squads for a significant tour of India, featuring both ODI and T20I formats, with a strong emphasis on preparing for the 2026 T20 World Cup. The series, including three ODIs and five T20Is, is strategically important for New Zealand to gain experience on sub-continental wickets. Mitchell Santner will captain the T20I team, marking his comeback from injury, while Michael Bracewell has been named skipper for the ODIs. The squads feature a mix of returning senior players and exciting new prospects like Jayden Lennox and Kristian Clarke, who are rewarded for impressive domestic form. Kyle Jamieson is included in both squads following his recovery, and Mark Chapman and Matt Henry will feature in the T20Is. Players like Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, and Will O’Rourke are either rested or undergoing injury management to ensure peak fitness for a busy international calendar. Head coach Rob Walter stated the value of this tour: “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 before a T20 World Cup in the subcontinent.” Left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox earns his maiden call-up, a testament to his consistent performances. The T20I squad will be further bolstered by players joining later in the series after fulfilling their franchise commitments.