New Zealand Gears Up for T20 Series Against India: A Prelude to World Cup Challenge

Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, and Matt Henry are fit for New Zealand's T20 series against India, a warm-up for the World Cup. Santner and Henry are easing back from injuries, while Jamieson returns to action. Devon Conway rejoins to complete the squad for subcontinent challenges.

New Zealand's cricket team, led by white ball captain Mitchell Santner, is set to face India in a high-stakes Twenty20 series. This tour acts as a crucial preparation for the upcoming World Cup scheduled next year. Santner, who had been sidelined with a groin strain, will sit out the one-day internationals in India but will return to lead the team in five T20 matches.

Injuries have been a concern for the Kiwis, with Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson managing their recoveries. Henry is absent from ​the West Indies series due to a calf injury, and Jamieson, kept out of recent tests, returns to the lineup. Rising talents Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes, who impressed in their debut seasons, are also on board.

Further changes in the roster include Devon Conway cutting short his South Africa league stint to join the squad. Coach Rob Walter emphasized the importance of acclimating players to subcontinental conditions, which differ significantly from New Zealand's. The World Cup group stage will see New Zealand pitched against South Africa, Afghanistan, Canada, and the UAE.

(With inputs from agencies.)