Rachin Ravindra is a doubt for New Zealand’s upcoming Twenty20 series against India after dislocating his shoulder during a promotional shoot, New Zealand Cricket confirmed on Saturday.
The injury occurred on Wednesday in Auckland while the 26-year-old all-rounder was filming a diving catch for a commercial with Sky. According to the board’s statement, the incident affected Ravindra’s right shoulder.
Medical specialists conducted initial assessments and cleared major structural damage, but New Zealand Cricket said his return-to-play timeline will depend on how he progresses during the first weeks of rehabilitation.
The setback comes at an inconvenient time for the Black Caps, with India scheduled to tour for five T20 matches starting October 22. The visit will be followed by five One-Day Internationals and two tests in November.
New Zealand’s performance manager Mike Sandle expressed the team’s disappointment over the situation. “We are gutted for Rachin,” Sandle said. He explained that the activities in the commercial shoot had been agreed upon in advance by all parties, with appropriate safety measures in place. Sandle described the incident as a bit of a freak accident and said the board will continue to review its processes around similar events in the future.
Ravindra has been a key figure for New Zealand across formats, featuring in 115 matches. He offers versatility as a batter who can slot into the top or middle order, and as a left-arm finger-spinner. His contributions on the global stage have been notable: he was New Zealand’s highest run-scorer at the 2023 50-over World Cup and their highest wicket-taker at this year’s T20 World Cup, where the team reached the final.
With the India series approaching, New Zealand will be hoping Ravindra’s rehabilitation progresses quickly enough to keep him in contention. The board’s statement did not provide a specific timeframe for his return, leaving his availability for the T20 leg uncertain.
New Zealand will host India in the first T20 on October 22, with the limited-overs contests then giving way to the test matches in November. The squad for the series has not yet been announced, and Ravindra’s fitness will be closely monitored in the coming weeks.
Source: ARY News