### New Zealand's Cricket Squad for India Tour: A Strategic Shift Ahead of the 2026 World Cup New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced its squads for the upcoming One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) series against India, scheduled to begin on January 11, 2026. Notably, star player Kane Williamson has been left out of the squads due to personal commitments and injury rehabilitation, marking a significant shift in the team's composition as they prepare for the T20 World Cup in 2026. The selection includes a mix of experienced players and fresh talent, with uncapped players like Jayden Lennox and Kristian Clarke earning their first call-ups. This tour is seen as a crucial opportunity for the Kiwis to finalize their team combinations ahead of the World Cup, which will take place in India and Sri Lanka starting February 7, 2026 [https://www.sportingnews.com/in/cricket/news/new-zealand-squad-odi-t20i-india-kane-williamson-out/fef287787b8cc5bf6b196eff, https://cricketaddictor.com/cricket-news/new-zealand-name-new-look-t20i-odi-squads-for-india-tour-focus-on-2026-world-cup-346152]. ### Overview of the New Zealand Squad Announcement 1. **Squad Composition**: - Kane Williamson is absent from both the ODI and T20I squads. - Michael Bracewell will captain the ODI team, while Mitchell Santner will lead the T20I side. - New faces include Jayden Lennox and Kristian Clarke, who are set to make their international debuts [https://www.india.com/sports/new-zealand-name-t20i-and-odi-squads-for-india-tour-michael-bracewell-to-captain-odis-kane-williamson-misses-out-8242827, https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/3740323-new-zealand-gears-up-for-t20-series-against-india-a-prelude-to-world-cup-challenge]. 2. **Strategic Focus**: - The series serves as a final preparation phase for the T20 World Cup. - The Kiwis aim to acclimatize to sub-continent conditions, which are crucial for their performance in the upcoming tournament [https://www.newkerala.com/news/o/lennox-earns-first-call-up-santner-henry-jamieson-return-t20-109, https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/mens-t20-world-cup-2026/news/new-zealand-squads-set-for-india-tour-as-t20-world-cup-looms]. 3. **Key Players and Absences**: - Mitchell Santner, who has been recovering from a groin strain, will return for the T20I matches but is absent from the ODIs. - Other notable absences include players who are engaged in franchise cricket or are undergoing rehabilitation [https://www.sky247.net/cricket/new-zealand-announces-odi-t20i-squads-for-india-tour-kane-williamson-unavailable-10943885, https://www.reportwire.in/sports/santner-bracewell-to-captain-nz-in-india-world-cup-prep]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Squad Details**: - **ODI Squad**: Michael Bracewell (C), Devon Conway, Finn Allen, etc. - **T20I Squad**: Mitchell Santner (C), Devon Conway, Jayden Lennox, Kristian Clarke, etc. - **Series Schedule**: - ODI series: January 11-15, 2026 (3 matches) - T20I series: January 21-25, 2026 (5 matches) [https://www.reportwire.in/sports/new-zealand-reveals-india-tour-squads-williamson-unavailable-lennox-debuts, https://www.bhaskarenglish.in/sports/cricket/news/new-zealand-squads-for-india-tour-announced-no-kane-williamson-michael-bracewell-to-lead-in-odis-mitchel-136752809.html]. ### Conclusion: A New Era for New Zealand Cricket In summary, New Zealand's decision to leave out Kane Williamson and introduce new talent reflects a strategic pivot as they gear up for the T20 World Cup. The upcoming series against India will be pivotal for assessing team dynamics and performance under pressure. 1. **Key Takeaway**: The absence of Williamson opens opportunities for emerging players. 2. **Strategic Importance**: This tour is essential for finalizing the squad ahead of the World Cup. 3. **Future Outlook**: The Kiwis aim to build a robust team capable of competing at the highest level in the upcoming tournament [https://www.thedailyjagran.com/cricket/india-vs-new-zealand-series-kane-williamson-missing-as-new-zealand-announce-t20i-odi-squads-for-india-tour-10288045, https://possible11.com/blog/new-zealand-announces-squad-for-odi-and-t20i-series-against-india].