IND vs NZ: Kane Williamson set to miss start of series due to groin injury

New Zealand were dealt with a huge blow as star batter Kane Williamson is all set to miss the start of the Test series against India with a groin strain. The Blackcaps announced their squad on October 9, Wednesday.

In Short

• New Zealand are hopeful Wiliamson will join the squad later on
• Chapman has been included in the squad as cover for Williamson
• Williamson has scored 871 runs against India in 13 Tests

Kane Williamson's departure to India has been delayed, and he is expected to miss the opening Test in Bengaluru due to a groin strain sustained during the recent series against Sri Lanka. New Zealand Cricket confirmed the news in a media release on Wednesday, October 9, noting that Williamson will need to undergo rehabilitation before joining the team in India.

New Zealand selector Sam Wells expressed optimism about Williamson’s chances of returning later in the series, once his recovery is complete. Wells said that the advice they got was to let the star batter rest and rehabilitate rather than taking a risk of aggravating the injury.

"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. We're hopeful that if the rehabilitation goes to plan Kane will be available for the latter part of the tour."

"While it's obviously disappointing to not have Kane available from the start of the tour, it provides an opportunity for someone else to play a role in an important series," said Wells.

Williamson has played 13 Tests against India and has scored 871 runs at an average of 37.87. During this time, he has scored 2 hundreds and 5 fifties from the 24 innings against India.

In Williamson's absence, Mark Chapman, uncapped at the Test level, has been called up as cover. Chapman, a key player in New Zealand's limited-overs squads, boasts an impressive first-class average of 41.9 with six centuries, including a standout performance against India A in 2020. Last season, he scored 245 runs in three Plunket Shield matches, highlighted by a knock of 123 against Otago Volts.

Additionally, Michael Bracewell will be part of the squad for the first Test before returning home for the birth of his second child. His place for the remainder of the series will be taken by Ish Sodhi.

New Zealand squad for India Test series

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