New Zealand Recall Allen, Ferguson and Seifert for ODI Series Against India, With Santner as Captain

Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Seifert are back in New Zealand’s one-day squad for the five-match series against India, with Rachin Ravindra also returning from injury and Mitchell Santner leading the side.

The series opens on November 4 at Eden Park in Auckland. It follows a five-match T20I series from October 22 to November 1, the opening leg of India’s 12-match tour of New Zealand, which also includes two Tests.

The BLACKCAPS will try to build on their 2-1 ODI series win over India in January, the first time New Zealand have won an ODI series against India in India.

THE RETURNEES

Allen and Ferguson have not played an ODI since 2023. Ferguson’s last appearance was in the World Cup semi-final against India in Mumbai. Seifert last played an ODI about 18 months ago, in the home series against Pakistan in April 2025.

Ravindra, who was ruled out of the T20I squad with a shoulder injury, returns for the first three ODIs.

A SPLIT SQUAD

New Zealand have picked two squads because several senior players will leave for Wellington after the third ODI to prepare for the Test series, according to New Zealand Cricket. Seven additional players join for the fourth and fifth matches.

For the first three ODIs, Santner is joined by Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner and Will Young.

For the last two, Santner leads a squad of Allen, Bracewell, Chapman, Kristian Clarke, Duffy, Matt Fisher, Ferguson, Mitch Hay (wk), Nick Kelly, Seifert (wk), Tickner and Young.

New Zealand will name their 14-member Test squad in early November.

THE TOUR

The T20Is begin on October 22 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch and are played over 11 days in four cities. New Zealand’s T20I squad of 16, also led by Santner, does not include Ravindra, and it sees the return of Adam Milne and Bracewell. The two Tests begin on November 19 in Wellington, with the second at Hagley Oval from November 27.

Santner has been New Zealand’s permanent white-ball captain since December 2024. In January, when New Zealand beat India in India, Bracewell had been named ODI captain for the tour, while Santner captained the T20I side.

Three fast bowlers, Zak Foulkes, Ben Sears and Will O’Rourke, were not considered because of injury.

With inputs from ANI