Kane Williamson Doubtful For Test Series Against India Due To A Groin Strain

Star New Zealand batter and former captain Kane Williamson is a doubt for the three-match Test series between India and New Zealand, which is set to start on October 16. The Kiwis will travel to India to take part in a three-match series. The series opener is scheduled to take place at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, whereas the next two matches will be played in Pune (October 24-28) and Mumbai (November 1-5) respectively.

According to a press release issued by the New Zealand Cricket Board on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday (October 9), 34-year-old Williamson, who is the all-time leading run scorer for New Zealand in Test cricket, will delay his departure for the upcoming series due to a groin strain.

The right-handed batter experienced groin discomfort during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle last month and will require a period of rehabilitation before joining the New Zealand Test squad in India.

The New Zealand team is set to depart for India on Friday (October 11), and Williamson is expected to join later. New Zealand’s selector, Sam Wells, said the plan was still for Williamson to play some part in the series.

“The advice we’ve received is that the best course of action is for Kane to rest and rehabilitate now rather than risk aggravating the injury,” said Wells. “We’re hopeful that if the rehabilitation goes to plan, Kane will be available for the latter part of the tour.

“While it’s obviously disappointing to not have Kane available from the start of the tour, it provides an opportunity for someone else to play a role in an important series,” he added.

All-rounder Mark Chapman, who is a regular member of New Zealand white-ball teams, will join the squad as cover for Williamson. The cricketer, who has also played for Hong Kong, averages 41.9 in first-class cricket. He played a 114-run knock for New Zealand A against India A at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in 2020.

According to Wells, 30-year-old left-handed batter Chapman has the right skillset for Test cricket in the subcontinent.

“We believe Mark is one of our best players of spin and has a proven track record in the subcontinent,” said Wells. “Mark has displayed an ability to play spin proactively in the international arena, and combined with his excellent first-class record, we see him as someone who can succeed in the type of conditions we expect to encounter in India.”

New Zealand’s squad for Test series against India: Tom Latham (C), Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell (1st Test only), Mark Chapman (cover), Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi (2nd & 3rd Test only), Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young