New Zealand will be without their star batter Kane Williamson for the opening Test against India in Bengaluru next Wednesday due to a groin strain he suffered during the recent Sri Lanka tour. Williamson’s departure to India has been delayed, as he requires an extended period of rehabilitation at home to recover from the injury.
The absence of Williamson, one of New Zealand’s most experienced and reliable batsmen, comes as a significant blow for the Black Caps, who will be hoping to bounce back after their recent 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka. To fill the void left by the former captain, the team has added middle-order batter Mark Chapman to the squad for the three-Test tour of India.
Williamson’s injury, sustained during New Zealand’s second Test in Galle, has been described as a groin issue that demands careful management to avoid aggravation. His rehabilitation will keep him out of the first Test, though Black Caps selector Sam Wells remains hopeful that Williamson could be available for the latter stages of the tour.
“The advice we’ve received is that the best course of action is for Kane to rest and rehabilitate now rather than risk aggravating the injury,” Wells explained. “While it’s obviously disappointing not to have Kane available from the start of the tour, it provides an opportunity for someone else to step up and play a role in this important series.”
Chapman, who has played 78 white-ball matches for New Zealand without earning a Test cap, is poised to make his Test debut. The left-hander has had some impressive performances in the first-class circuit, including a century against India A in 2020 and a solid run of form for Auckland in the 2023 Plunket Shield, where he scored 123 against Otago and 83 off 68 balls in his final innings of the season.
Chapman’s inclusion adds depth to New Zealand’s middle-order, and with Williamson sidelined, he may be given an opportunity to play a significant role in the team’s efforts in India.
The rest of the squad remains largely unchanged from the Sri Lanka tour, with Tom Latham stepping in as captain following Tim Southee’s resignation from the role after New Zealand’s struggles on the subcontinent. Michael Bracewell will also be available for the first Test only, before departing for the birth of his second child. Ish Sodhi will join the squad as Bracewell’s replacement for the second and third Tests.
In addition, former Sri Lankan spin legend Rangana Herath will travel with the squad as part of New Zealand’s coaching team, having previously served as a spin-bowling consultant during the Sri Lanka series.
New Zealand Squad for India Tour 2024:
Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell (1st Test only), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi (2nd and 3rd Test only), Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young
New Zealand’s 1st Test against India will take place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday, 15th October. The team will be hoping to make a strong start in what promises to be a challenging series on Indian soil.
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