New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra has been ruled out of the upcoming T20 series against Australia due to a facial injury, despite passing a concussion test, New Zealand Cricket has confirmed.
Rachin sustained the injury during fielding practice when he fell near the boundary and suffered cuts to his nose and upper lip, which required specialised stitches. Considering the nature of the injury, the team has decided not to include him in the series squad.
In his place, experienced all-rounder Jimmy Neesham has been called up. While Rachin is a left-arm spinning all-rounder, Neesham primarily bowls pace. The coaching staff explained that Neesham was their preferred choice to maintain squad balance and bring experience to the team.
Coach Rob Walter said the decision was also made with an eye on the upcoming series against England, emphasising the need to give Rachin adequate time to recover. He added, “The injury is not serious, but we want to allow him sufficient time to heal.”
New Zealand is already missing several key players due to injury, including regular captain Mitchell Santner, with at least eight frontline players unavailable for the series. Losing Rachin is another blow for the team.
Jimmy Neesham has played 84 T20 internationals, with his most recent appearance in a tri-nation series in Zimbabwe last July. The three-match T20 series against Australia begins today, 1 October.
