michael bracewell injury

Michael Bracewell in Doubt for India T20Is; ODI Series Hero Earns Recall

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Modified - Jan 20, 2026, 10:27 AM

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New Zealand have suffered a huge blow ahead of the T20 series against India. Star all-rounder and the captain of the ODI series, Michael Bracewell, has been injured, which has raised alarm bells for the Kiwi side ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup.

Michael Bracewell injury could be a concern for the visiting side as he is one of the most experienced cricketers in this team. He is one of the most dangerous batsmen in the world, and his big-hitting abilities alongside his off-spin bowling, have won his team a number of matches in the past.

In his place, NZ have brought in the bowling all-rounder Kristian Clarke to strengthen their squad for the opening three matches of the upcoming T20I series against India, as injury issues continue to trouble them ahead of the mega ICC event.

Will Michael Bracewell Play IND vs NZ T20I Series?

While Bracewell suffered a calf injury during the 3rd ODI recently, he is not yet ruled out of the series and remains in the squad. Kristian Clarke has been added as Michael Bracewell replacement in this squad for the IND vs NZ series for T20Is. Clarke has been included temporarily and will be part of the group when the series gets started in Nagpur on 21st January, 2026.

His addition comes at a time when the Black Caps are monitoring the fitness of key players, with fast bowler Adam Milne and senior spinner Michael Bracewell both having injuries in the build-up to the series.

New Zealand speedster Adam Milne picked up a hamstring injury while featuring in the SA20 league in South Africa. Despite their fitness concerns, both players have been named in New Zealand’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7. They will be aiming to regain full fitness during the latter stages of the five-match T20I series against India.

NZ Coach Rob Walter on Kristian Clarke's Selection

Clarke’s selection has been on the basis of his strong bowling performances in the ODI series, and head coach Rob Walter said that the youngster’s promotion to the T20I setup was fully deserving.

“We’ve got a fair bit of player movement at the moment with some guys returning from injury for this series, others joining us immediately from franchise cricket and the rest coming off the India ODI series and Super Smash," Walter said.
“We want to ensure we’ve got enough pace-bowling options for the first three games of this series and it’s a great opportunity for Kristian to stay on with the group a little longer on his first tour of India.
“He certainly showcased his talent in the ODI series, but what was particularly impressive was his calmness and ability to perform under pressure."

The 1st match of the T20I series is scheduled at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, and the visiting side will be looking to continue with their momentum in the shortest format as well after troubling the home side in the ODIs.

New Zealand T20 Squad vs India

The five-game T20 international series, after the three-match ODI leg, holds significant importance for New Zealand as they look to adapt to sub-continental conditions in the build-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

With the T20 World Cup set to begin on February 7 across India and Sri Lanka, this series will provide valuable preparation time for the Black Caps in similar conditions. Mitchell Santner, who is among the best all-rounders in the world, will captain the T20I squad, making his comeback after an injury.

NZ T20I Squad for India Series

Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ish Sodhi.