New Zealand Announce Transitional Squads for 2026 India Tour, Santner and Bracewell to Lead

LONDON, 28 January 2026 – New Zealand Cricket has unveiled its squads for the upcoming white-ball tour of India, signalling a strategic shift with experienced campaigners Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner handed the captaincy in the absence of the rested Kane Williamson. The tour, comprising three One Day Internationals and five Twenty20 Internationals beginning on 11 January 2026, is viewed as critical preparation for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka later in the year.

New Leadership and Fresh Faces for Black Caps

The selection represents a bold move by New Zealand, prioritising workload management and future planning. Michael Bracewell will captain the ODI side, while the returning Mitchell Santner, who continues his comeback from injury, will lead the T20I outfit. Notably, stalwart Kane Williamson has been rested for the entire tour alongside several other senior players including Jacob Duffy and Rachin Ravindra.

The squads feature a blend of experience and new talent. Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway, and Glenn Phillips provide the core batting experience, while the bowling will be led by Kyle Jamieson—back in both formats—and Matt Henry in the T20Is. The tour marks a maiden international call-up for left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox in the ODI squad, with all-rounder Kristian Clarke also included as an uncapped player.

India vs New Zealand 2026: Full Tour Schedule

A Crucial Litmus Test Ahead of World Cup

For New Zealand, this tour is more than a bilateral contest. Head coach Rob Walter emphasised the value of subcontinent exposure, stating, “Playing in the sub-continent is obviously very different to what we’re used to… any opportunity we can get to expose our guys to those conditions can only be a good thing, especially prior to a T20 World Cup in the subcontinent.” The T20I series will allow the Black Caps to finalise their combinations before naming their final World Cup squad in mid-January.

For India, led by Shubman Gill in ODIs and Suryakumar Yadav in T20Is, this series represents their final T20 assignment before the global tournament. The hosts will look to build momentum, with the return of senior figures Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli bolstering the ODI squad. The tour also carries the backdrop of New Zealand’s historic achievement in 2024, where they secured a stunning 3-0 Test series whitewash in India—their first-ever series victory on Indian soil.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Kane Williamson not playing against India in 2026?

Kane Williamson has been rested as part of New Zealand Cricket’s workload management programme ahead of a busy schedule featuring the ICC World Test Championship and the T20 World Cup. The decision is strategic, aimed at preserving key players for major tournaments.

Who are the new players in the New Zealand squads?

Left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox has earned his maiden ODI call-up after consistent performances for New Zealand A. All-rounder Kristian Clarke is another uncapped player included in the ODI squad. The T20I squad also features the returning Bevon Jacobs and Tim Robinson.

What was the result of the last Test series between India and New Zealand?

In their most recent Test encounter during October-November 2024, New Zealand created history by defeating India 3-0 in a three-match series on Indian soil. It was New Zealand’s first-ever Test series victory in India and marked the first time India had been whitewashed at home in a series of three or more Tests since 2000.