🏏 **Bracewell** Captains Injury-Hit NZ vs India ODIs

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Key Takeaways

1📊 Bracewell captains ODIs; Jamieson back from injury[1]
2🏆 Santner out, Williamson SA20-bound[1]
3💡 Jayden Lennox earns maiden call-up[1]
4🔮 Tests depth for 2027 Champions Trophy[1]
5💬 Multiple stars sidelined by injuries/rest[1]

"Santner, Chapman and Henry are expected to return for the subsequent T20I series after recovering from their respective injuries"

Injury-ravaged New Zealand named Michael Bracewell ODI captain for the India series starting January 11, 2026, with Kyle Jamieson returning from back injury. Regular skipper Mitchell Santner rests with a groin strain; Kane Williamson skips for SA20, while Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Matt Henry are injured, and Tom Latham awaits his third child. Jacob Duffy and Rachin Ravindra rested; debutant Jayden Lennox joins fresh faces like Kristian Clarke.

New Zealand's white-ball setup faces upheaval post-2025 exploits, with pacers decimated. Bracewell, all-rounder with Test captaincy experience, steps up amid transition. Jamieson's return (absent since early 2025 back issue) bolsters seam attack; series crucial for 2027 Champions Trophy prep. Historical parallels: 2019 injury crises birthed stars like Jamieson.

Squad Shake-Up: Youth Meets Experience

Bracewell leads a 15-man squad blending Jamieson's Test haul of 57 wickets with rookies—Lennox's left-arm spin impressed domestically. Absences hit hard: Henry's 50+ ODIs irreplaceable short-term. Stats show NZ's ODI average 28.5 sans top pacers; Jamieson's economy 5.2 vital vs India's batting. Echoes 2023 squad vs India, yielding upsets.

Implications for NZ's White-Ball Rebuild

Three ODIs then five T20Is test depth ahead of global events. Bracewell's leadership could cement him long-term, like Williamson's elevation. Standings: NZ eyes top-4 for CT; injuries expose reliance on all-rounders.