Kane Williamson to Miss India ODIs as New Zealand Name Revamped Squads for January Tour

New Zealand Cricket have unveiled their ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming white-ball tour of India in January, with the absence of Kane Williamson emerging as the most significant talking point. The Blackcaps will contest three ODIs between January 11 and 18, followed by a five-match T20I series from January 21 to 31.

Williamson, who has already stepped away from T20 internationals, will also miss the ODI leg of the tour. NZC confirmed the former captain's unavailability is due to his SA20 commitments, where he is set to represent Durban's Super Giants. His absence, coupled with several senior players being rested or sidelined, has prompted a notable reshuffle in New Zealand's one-day setup.

Kane Williamson — Williamson, who has already stepped away from T20 internationals, will also miss the ODI leg of the tour. Photo: PTI

The ODI squad will be led by Michael Bracewell, who takes charge in the absence of regular skipper Mitchell Santner. Santner has been named only in the T20I squad as he continues his recovery from a groin injury. The ODI group also excludes Tom Latham, Matt Henry, Rachin Ravindra, Jacob Duffy, Mark Chapman, Nathan Smith, and Blair Tickner, either due to injury rehabilitation, workload management, personal reasons, or return-to-play programmes.

In contrast, the T20I squad largely mirrors the group that recently enjoyed success against West Indies. Tim Seifert and Nathan Smith miss out, while Bevon Jacobs, Glenn Phillips, and Matt Henry return as New Zealand fine-tune combinations ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The shake-up has opened doors for fresh faces in the ODI side. Left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox has earned his maiden international call-up after consistent domestic performances and strong outings for New Zealand A. Uncapped batter Kristian Clarke and recent Test debutant Michael Rae have also been included, reflecting the selectors' intent to broaden the talent pool.

Head coach Rob Walter highlighted Lennox's long-term potential, noting his sustained impact in domestic white-ball cricket. With a young and relatively inexperienced ODI squad, the India series presents New Zealand with a valuable opportunity to test depth, manage workloads, and begin adjusting to a future increasingly shaped without Kane Williamson at the helm.

New Zealand 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

New Zealand ODI squad for India series: 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