New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson is set to miss the T20I series against India scheduled to start on November 17 in Jaipur. He has opted out of the three-match long series to focus on the Test series that will follow the T20Is.
"With the opening game of the T20 series on Wednesday evening, followed by games on Friday and Sunday night - the decision was made for Williamson to join the Test specialist group already training in Jaipur as they focus on red-ball preparation," stated a media release.
In his absence, Tim Southee will lead the Blackcaps against Team India led by Rohit Sharma.
New Zealand are also without their middle-order batsman Devon Conway, who broke his hand in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup against England.
New Zealand lost in the final of the T20 World Cup against Australia while India were knocked out of the global event in the Super 12 stage only. The Kane Williamson-led side defeated India in the group stage fixture in the T20 World Cup.
New Zealand squad
Tim Southee (Captain), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi