Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman are set to return to the New Zealand setup for their home one-day international series against India. Both players were named in the squad on Sunday after missing the preceding Twenty20 matches due to injury. Ravindra, a left-handed batsman, was sidelined after dislocating his shoulder during a promotional event last month, while Chapman has been recovering from a hamstring injury. Likewise, Chapman will miss the 20-over matches with a hamstring injury.
Coach Rob Walter has assembled an expansive group of 21 players for the five-match ODI series scheduled for November. The roster management is complex: only six players, including captain Mitchell Santner, will participate in the entire series. Eight squad members will feature only in the first three matches before departing to prepare for two upcoming Tests against the Indian touring side. A final group of seven players will then join the squad for the remaining two ODIs.
The later matches will see the return of openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert alongside pace bowler Lockie Ferguson. All three have focused recently on professional T20 leagues and have not played in the 50-over format for 18 months. Walter emphasized that this series provides a vital platform for players to stake their claims for next year’s World Cup selection.
“We’re incredibly lucky to have the depth that we do to have 21 players involved in the series,” Walter stated. He noted the value of reintegrating experienced talent, adding, “It’s also great to bring guys like Lockie, Finn, and Tim back into the one-day unit. For Finn and Tim in particular, we’ve seen what they can do in the T20 arena, and it’s now a great opportunity for them to push their case in the longer format.”
