Rachin Ravindra’s tough luck strikes again—he’s out of New Zealand’s upcoming three-match T20I series against Australia after a nasty injury during training. Jimmy Neesham steps in as his replacement, bringing plenty of experience to the Black Caps squad.
The incident happened Tuesday at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Ravindra collided with a boundary hoarding while practicing fielding, leaving him with a deep cut on his upper lip and nose. He needed specialist stitches to close the wound, and it’ll take time to heal fully.
New Zealand coach Rob Walter shared his disappointment: “We’re all really gutted for Rachin. He took a major hit to his face, and while he’s a key player for us, his health comes first. We’re sending him home to recover, hoping he’ll be ready for the England series in a couple of weeks.”
This marks Ravindra’s second facial injury this year. Back in the buildup to the Champions Trophy, a ball struck him on the forehead during a tri-series match against South Africa in Lahore. That forced him to miss the rest of the tri-series and New Zealand’s opener against Pakistan.
Neesham, a seasoned all-rounder with 84 T20I caps under his belt, just rejoined the team in Tauranga after playing in Zimbabwe last July. Walter praised the move: “We’re fortunate to have Jimmy on call—he’s got the skills and smarts we need. Bay Oval’s set for a huge night to kick off the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, and everyone’s pumped.”
The updated New Zealand squad features captain Michael Bracewell, along with Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, and Ish Sodhi. Fans will be watching closely as the Black Caps gear up for the Australia clash.
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