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Following a series-clinching defeat in Guwahati, New Zealand have announced a major overhaul of their squad for the final two T20Is in Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram. With the series currently at 3-0 in India’s favour, the Black Caps have opted to release two of their younger prospects to integrate veteran firepower ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. The changes reflect a shift toward experience as Mitchell Santner’s side looks to restore pride and find their winning combination before the global tournament begins in less than two weeks.
Fresh faces and experience as New Zealand reshuffled squad for the final 2 T20Is vs India
The decision to release pacer Kristian Clarke and opener Tim Robinson from the squad is a strategic move to provide game time to New Zealand’s core World Cup stars. While Clarke and Robinson showed glimpses of potential in the opening games, the team management has prioritized the return of Lockie Ferguson, Jimmy Neesham and Tim Seifert, all of whom have now officially joined the camp in India.
Ferguson’s return is particularly vital; his high-octane pace and familiarity with Indian conditions are seen as the antidote to India’s aggressive top-order batting. Similarly, the addition of Neesham provides much-needed finishing depth and an extra seam option, which was missing during the middle-over collapses in Raipur and Guwahati.
To further bolster the batting, explosive opener Finn Allen is scheduled to join the squad on Thursday, just in time for the fifth T20I in Thiruvananthapuram. These ‘World Cup-bound’ inclusions signify that New Zealand is no longer experimenting and is now focused on building momentum for their opening World Cup fixture against Afghanistan on February 8.
Kristian Clarke and Tim Robinson have been released from the BLACKCAPS T20 squad in India with Jimmy Neesham, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Seifert now in camp.
Finn Allen will be the final squad member to join the side on Thursday in Trivandrum.
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS)
Also READ: New Zealand players check Abhishek Sharma’s bat after Guwahati assault – IND vs NZ, 3rd T20I
New Zealand’s road ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
With these significant changes, the New Zealand squad for the remaining two T20Is has taken on a much more formidable look, featuring a blend of established white-ball specialists. This group faces a daunting task in Visakhapatnam on January 28, where they must counter a rampant Indian side led by Suryakumar Yadav, who has already secured an unassailable 3-0 lead.
The Kiwis will be particularly buoyed by the presence of Kyle Jamieson, who was recently named as the permanent World Cup replacement for the injured Adam Milne. After suffering a heavy eight-wicket loss in Guwahati where India chased down 154 in just 10 overs, the Black Caps’ primary objective in the final two games is to find a way to contain Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. Success in these remaining fixtures is crucial not just for the series scoreline, but to avoid a 5-0 whitewash that could dent their confidence heading into the biggest tournament of the year.
Updated New Zealand squad for the remaining T20I series against New Zealand
Mitchell Santner (C), Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, and Zakary Foulkes, with Finn Allen arriving later.
