New Zealand will be without Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman for the five-match one-day international series against India after both batters failed to recover from injuries in time, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed on Monday, November 2.
The series starts at Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday, November 4, as the second leg of India’s tour of New Zealand. India won the five-match T20I series that concluded on Sunday by 3-2, and the home side must now reshuffle its batting plans without two senior players.
Why Ravindra and Chapman are out
Chapman suffered a left hamstring tear during his stint at the European T20 Premier League in September. NZC said a recent MRI scan showed his left hamstring “requires another two weeks of rehabilitation before he is fully fit to return to the field”.
Ravindra injured his right shoulder during a promotional shoot in September, an injury that had already kept him out of the T20I leg. NZC said his shoulder “requires more recovery time before he’s able to field at full capacity”.
New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said it was disappointing to lose both players. The absences are a significant blow: Ravindra and Chapman were both expected to anchor the middle order against a strong Indian attack.
Who comes in
Wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert, who had initially been selected only for the last two ODIs, will now be available for the full five-match series. Seifert arrives in form, having scored 93 in New Zealand’s seven-wicket win in the fifth T20I in Hamilton on Sunday.
Experienced left-handed batter Henry Nicholls joins the squad for the first three ODIs. His recall follows a timely 119 for Canterbury against Wellington Firebirds in the Ford Trophy on Saturday, his 13th List-A hundred.
All-rounder Dean Foxcroft will join the group for the final two matches, after the New Zealand A red-ball series against India A. Seam bowler Matt Fisher, originally picked only for the last two games, will remain with the squad for the full series as an additional bowling option.
Matt Henry, who was ruled out midway through the T20I series, assembled with the squad on Monday and will be assessed on his readiness to play the November 4 opener.
New Zealand’s updated ODI squads
ODIs 1-3: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert, Nathan Smith, Will Young, Blair Tickner.
ODIs 4-5: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Kristian Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Hay (wicketkeeper), Nick Kelly, Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Blair Tickner, Will Young.
What it means for the series
New Zealand’s reshuffle changes the balance of the side. Seifert’s promotion to the full series gives the hosts an in-form wicketkeeper-batter at the top or in the middle order, while Nicholls brings experience — and recent runs — for the Auckland leg and the next two games. The split-squad approach, with Foxcroft arriving for the final two matches, also keeps the door open for late changes if Henry’s fitness or other injuries intervene.
For India, the news removes two of New Zealand’s most dangerous white-ball batters from the equation, but the hosts still field a strong core around captain Mitchell Santner, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips and Tom Latham.
Related coverage on Emadan: Glenn Phillips Smashes 107 as New Zealand Beat India by 87 Runs in Fourth T20I at Eden Park and India Split Squads for NZ Tour; Gill, Iyer Captain.
What to watch next
The immediate questions are whether Matt Henry is cleared for Eden Park on Wednesday, how Seifert and Nicholls slot into the batting order, and whether Ravindra or Chapman can return later in the home summer. NZC has given no return date beyond Chapman’s two further weeks of rehabilitation.
Frequently asked questions
When does the ODI series start?
The first ODI is at Eden Park, Auckland, on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
Why is Rachin Ravindra out?
He is still recovering from a right shoulder injury sustained during a promotional shoot in September and cannot yet field at full capacity, according to NZC.
Why is Mark Chapman out?
A left hamstring tear from the European T20 Premier League in September needs another two weeks of rehabilitation, according to an MRI cited by NZC.
Who replaced them?
Tim Seifert for the full series, Henry Nicholls for ODIs 1-3, Dean Foxcroft for ODIs 4-5, with Matt Fisher also staying for the full series as an extra bowling option.
Sources
- ESPNcricinfo — Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman ruled out of India ODIs (Nov 1-2, 2026)
- Cricbuzz — Mark Chapman, Rachin Ravindra ruled out of India ODIs (Nov 2, 2026)
- NZ Herald — Black Caps lose two star batters to injury ahead of India ODI series (Nov 2, 2026)
- Indian Express — Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman ruled out of New Zealand’s ODI series vs India (Nov 2, 2026)
