New Zealand have announced their squads for the upcoming tour of India as the Black Caps step up preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The tour will comprise three One-Day Internationals followed by a five-match T20I series, providing the visitors valuable exposure to subcontinent conditions ahead of the global tournament, scheduled to begin on February 7.
Mitchell Santner will captain the T20I side as he continues his comeback from injury, while Michael Bracewell has been named skipper for the ODI series.
The squads feature the return of several senior players across both formats, along with a handful of emerging talents rewarded for recent strong performances. Among the fresh faces are Jayden Lennox, Kristian Clarke, Bevon Jacobs and Tim Robinson, while Michael Rae, who made his debut in the second Test against the West Indies, also finds a place. Kyle Jamieson is set to feature in both formats following his recovery, with Mark Chapman and Matt Henry included in the T20I squad.
T20I squad:
Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Tim Robinson, Zak Foulkes, Bevon Jacobs.
ODI squad:
Michael Bracewell (captain), Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Kyle Jamieson, Glenn Phillips, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Mitch Hay, Adi Ashok, Zak Foulkes, Michael Rae.
Acclimatising to the sub-continent and preparing for a #T20WorldCup is the goal for New Zealand on their white-ball tour of India 🏏
More 📲 https://t.co/sNq05RkS9F pic.twitter.com/J7t83Psnxj
— ICC (@ICC) December 24, 2025
Several players, including Jacob Duffy, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Will O’Rourke and Blair Tickner, have been rested or ruled out due to injury management and workload considerations, with an eye on a packed international calendar that also includes the ICC World Test Championship cycle from 2025 to 2027.
Head coach Rob Walter underlined the importance of touring India ahead of the T20 World Cup. “Exposure to subcontinent conditions is invaluable,” he said. “Playing in spin-friendly environments will help our squad prepare for the challenges of the World Cup.”
The T20I squad is expected to be strengthened later in the series with the arrival of players completing franchise commitments, allowing New Zealand to field a near full-strength side before naming their final T20 World Cup squad in mid-January.
(Inputs from ICC)
