Black Caps v India: New Zealand name near full-strength squad for T20 World Cup dress rehearsal

Black Caps captain Mitchell Santner batting against the West Indies at Eden Park. Photo / Photosport

As their final preparation for next year’s World Cup, the Black Caps have named as strong a squad as possible for five Twenty20 Internationals against India at the start of January.

Admittedly missing a handful of players to Australia’s Big Bash League (Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Lockie Ferguson) and South Africa’s SA20 (Adam Milne), the Black Caps’ 15-man group is a fair indication of the squad for next year’s tournament in India and Sri Lanka.

White ball captain Mitchell Santner has been declared fit, after missing New Zealand’s 2-0 test series win over the West Indies, while Matt Henry is also back from a calf injury, suffered in the Black Caps’ draw in Christchurch.

Having also been rested for the test series win, Kyle Jamieson is also named in the T20 squad, and can make the most of Ferguson and Milne’s absence. As they build back to full fitness, Ben Sears and Will O’Rourke have not been named.

With top order spots expected to be filled by Allen, Seifert and Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway has cut his time in the SA20 short to be the sole wicketkeeper in the squad, while Auckland’s Bevon Jacobs will eye a chance to show his wares as a lower-order finisher and book a World Cup squad.

The five-match T20 series follows three one-day internationals, where the Black Caps will take the chance to blood new players, amid rest for the established group and franchise league commitments.

With Santner, Henry and Mark Chapman being managed back from injury, and rest for Tom Latham, Rachin Ravindra and Jacob Duffy after the test series, three uncapped players have been named for the ODIs, to go with a host of newer faces.

Michael Bracewell will lead the 15-man group, albeit with Kane Williamson missing to play in South Africa’s SA20.

Fresh from his Basin Reserve test debut, Michael Rae has the chance to earn a first cap in white ball cricket, with his inclusion.

Northern Districts seamer Kristian Clarke and Central Districts spinner Jayden Lennox have the chance to earn their international debuts as well.

Auckland spinner Adi Ashok and Central Districts allrounder Josh Clarkson both return to the squad after making their ODI debuts against Bangladesh at the end of 2023.

Wellington’s Nick Kelly also returns, after making his Black Caps debut at the start of 2025, while Henry Nicholls is also recalled after outstanding form to begin the New Zealand domestic season.

The Black Caps tour of India runs from January 11 to February 1, before the T20 World Cup begins on February 7.

T20 Squad: 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

ODI squad: Michael Bracewell (c), Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Will Young

Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.