
New Zealand have been dealt a double-blow ahead of the five-match ODI series against India, with Mark Chapman and Rachin Ravindra ruled out as they continue to rehabilitate from their respective injuries. The duo were sidelined by injuries that kept them out of the T20I leg, which New Zealand lost 3-2 and have failed to recover in time for the ODI series starting in Auckland on November 4.
Chapman suffered an injury to his left hamstring during his stint at the European T20 Premier League. A New Zealand Cricket statement said that following a recent MRI, he now requires an additional two weeks of rehab before attaining full fitness. Ravindra, on the other hand, dislocated his right shoulder in a freak incident during a promotional shoot and a New Zealand Cricket statement said that he requires more recovery time before being ready to field at full capacity.
“Everyone knows what an asset Mark and Rachin are to this side so it’s a shame they have to miss this series,” head coach Rob Walter said.
“I caught up with Mark last week and although he’s disappointed he’s working hard to get back on the field. With Rachin, his shoulder hasn’t quite recovered to a position where he could field comfortably in white-ball cricket, so with the Test series later this month we don’t want to take any undue risks.”
Wicketkeeper batter Tim Seifert has been called up for the first three ODIs, having already been named for the last two games of the series. Left-handed batter Henry Nicholls and all-rounder Dean Foxcroft have also been summoned to the squad. While Nicholls has been added for the first three ODIs, Foxcroft will join the squad for the last two games.
Also joining the squad for the first three matches is pacer Matt Fisher, who was initially named for the last two games alone. Matt Henry, who was sidelined from the last three T20Is with a low-grade tear in his right quadricep, will assemble with the squad on Monday (November 2) with his readiness to play to be assessed.