Henry Nicholls called up as Ravindra, Chapman miss NZ's India ODIs
By Rohan SalujaGeopolitics Editor, Peepals Global
Representative image: webentwicklerin / Pixabay
New Zealand ruled Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman out of the five-match ODI series against India on November 2, 2026, calling up Henry Nicholls.
What Happened
New Zealand will be without two of their leading batters for the five-match One Day International (ODI) series against India. New Zealand Cricket said on Monday, November 2, 2026 that Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman have both been ruled out with injuries, two days before the series opens at Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday, November 4. Experienced batter Henry Nicholls has been called up for the first three matches, Dean Foxcroft will take his place for the last two, and wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert, who had been picked only for the fourth and fifth games, has been added for the whole series. Head coach Rob Walter said it was a shame the pair would miss the series.
Key Facts
- Ruled out: Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman, both through injury.
- Henry Nicholls joins for ODIs one to three; he has been playing in the four-day series between New Zealand A and India A.
- Dean Foxcroft, also with New Zealand A, replaces Nicholls for ODIs four and five.
- Tim Seifert moves from the second-half squad to the full series.
- Fast bowler Matt Henry is to be reassessed before the first match, according to reports.
- Series schedule: November 4 (Auckland), November 7 (Wellington), November 10 (Hamilton), November 13 and November 15 (both Mount Maunganui).
- Matches start at 7:30 am India time.
Why It Matters
For India, the news changes the picture before the first ball is bowled. Ravindra and Chapman were both named in the squad for the first three matches when it was announced in October. Their absence leaves New Zealand with a less experienced middle order at home, against an Indian side that has just won the T20 International series 3-2 and has added fast bowler Auqib Nabi to its squad for the opening three ODIs.
New Zealand had split their squad into two groups, one for the first three matches and one for the last two, so that players could prepare for the Test series that follows the ODIs. That plan is why the replacements are also split: Nicholls covers the first three games and Foxcroft the last two, while Seifert's promotion to the full series gives the selectors a further batting option throughout. Nicholls brings experience at the top level, while Foxcroft is pushing for a place after appearances for New Zealand A against India A.
For Indian fans, the series is also a rare chance to watch a full five-match bilateral ODI contest in New Zealand, with matches starting in the early morning in India. Captain Mitchell Santner leads the home side, which will now have to find a new balance in the batting order without two batters it had chosen for the first three games.
Peepals timeline: October, New Zealand announce a split ODI squad with Ravindra and Chapman in the group for the first three matches and Seifert in the group for the last two; late October, India take the T20 International series 3-2; November 2, New Zealand Cricket rules out Ravindra and Chapman and names Nicholls, Foxcroft and Seifert as cover; November 4, first ODI at Eden Park. The series runs 12 days, from November 4 to November 15, with five matches across four grounds.
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | Wednesday, November 4 | Eden Park, Auckland |
| 2nd ODI | Saturday, November 7 | Wellington |
| 3rd ODI | Tuesday, November 10 | Hamilton |
| 4th ODI | Friday, November 13 | Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui |
| 5th ODI | Sunday, November 15 | Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui |
Impact
Short-term: New Zealand must reshape their batting for the opener in Auckland, and the fitness check on Matt Henry adds to the uncertainty. India's bowlers face a home side missing two batters who had been picked for the opening games.
Long-term: Both teams are using the ODIs to prepare for the Test series that follows, so how quickly Ravindra and Chapman recover will matter for New Zealand's planning beyond this series.
Who is affected: New Zealand's selectors and the players called in, India's team and support staff planning for the opener, and cricket fans in India following the series in the early morning.
What to watch next: Matt Henry's fitness assessment and the first ODI at Eden Park on November 4.
Key Takeaway
Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman are out of New Zealand's ODI series against India, with Henry Nicholls, Dean Foxcroft and Tim Seifert called in before the November 4 opener.
Questions and Answers
Why has Henry Nicholls been called into the New Zealand squad?
Nicholls was called up on November 2, 2026 to replace the injured Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman for the first three ODIs against India; Dean Foxcroft takes his place for the last two.
Will Rachin Ravindra play in the India vs New Zealand ODI series?
No. New Zealand Cricket has ruled both Ravindra and Mark Chapman out of the five-match series with injuries.
When does the India vs New Zealand ODI series start?
The first ODI is on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at Eden Park, Auckland, starting at 7:30 am India time. The series ends on November 15 at Mount Maunganui.
Who else has been added to New Zealand's ODI squad?
Tim Seifert, earlier named only for the fourth and fifth ODIs, has been added for the whole series, and Dean Foxcroft joins for the last two matches.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Rohan Saluja, Geopolitics EditorCovers Geopolitics and more for Peepals Global. All stories by Rohan Saluja
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Rohan Saluja is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
