New Zealand have been hit by injuries ahead of the upcoming five-match ODI series against India. Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman have been ruled out of the bilateral assignment.

The two players also missed the recently concluded T20I series against the Men in Blue. The hosts lost the series 3-2, but they were brilliant in the last two games. They would be hoping to put the Shubman Gill-led team under pressure from the start and avoid lapses in the fielding department.

The absence of two senior players will be felt, and the Kiwis have added replacement players to the squad.

Chapman injured his left hamstring while competing in the European T20 Premier League. He will require a few weeks to recover, ending his hopes of playing against India.

Rachin dislocated his right shoulder during a shoot for a brand. New Zealand Cricket revealed that he hasn’t recovered and is not ready to take the field. The decision-makers don’t want to take the risk before the two-Test series against the sub-continent team.

New Zealand head coach Rob Walter spoke about the importance of the two players and expressed his disappointment at the unavailability of the experienced duo.

“Everyone knows what an asset Mark and Rachin are to this side, so it’s a shame they have to miss this series,” said Walter.

“I caught up with Mark last week, and although he’s disappointed, he’s working hard to get back on the field. With Rachin, his shoulder hasn’t quite recovered to a position where he could field comfortably in white-ball cricket, so with the Test series later this month we don’t want to take any undue risks,” he added.

New Zealand make changes

The host nation has made changes and also adjusted the availability of the players, who were already part of the team following the new injury setbacks. Tim Seifert has been recalled for the first three ODIs. He was already part of the group for the last two games. The same call has been made for Matt Fisher.

Henry Nicholls will play in the first three matches while Dean Foxcroft has been called up for the last two fixtures.

Matt Henry’s fitness will be monitored closely. The pacer was ruled out of the last three T20Is against India after a low-grade tear in his right quadriceps.

Henry will join the ODI squad on Monday, having been selected for the first three ODIs. However, his readiness will be assessed.

New Zealand squad for first three ODIs vs India: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Tim Seifert (wk), Nathan Smith, Will Young, Blair Tickner.

New Zealand squad for last two ODIs vs India: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Kristian Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Hay (wk), Nick Kelly, Tim Seifert (wk), Blair Tickner, Will Young.