Kane Williamson's participation in the Black Caps Test squad for the three-Test series against India is in doubt due to a groin strain.
Williamson experienced groin discomfort during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle and will require a period of rehabilitation before joining the squad in India.
Williamson is still set to play some part in the series, dependent on his recovery.
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Uncapped Auckland Aces batter Mark Chapman will join the squad as cover for Williamson.
Chapman, who has become a mainstay in the BLACKCAPS white-ball sides, averages 41.9 in first-class cricket, with six centuries, including 114 for New Zealand A against India A at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in 2020.
He featured in three of the Aces Plunket Shield fixtures last summer, notching 245 runs at 40, including 123 against the Otago Volts in Dunedin in February.
Allrounder Michael Bracewell will travel with the squad for the first Test in Bengaluru before returning home for the birth of his second child and will be replaced by Ish Sodhi for the remainder of the series.
The remainder of the squad is unchanged from the recent Test series against Sri Lanka, with Tom Latham leading the side for the first time as full-time Test captain.
Black Caps squad | Test tour of India: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell (1st Test only), Mark Chapman*, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke,
Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi (2nd & 3rd Test only), Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young
*Uncapped
Gary Stead will lead the Black Caps coaching staff, alongside batting coach Luke Ronchi and bowling coach Jacob Oram.
Sri Lankan spin maestro Rangana Herath, who was part of the coaching staff for the recent Tests against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, will continue his role as spin-coach for the India series.
The squad departs for India on Friday, ahead of the 1st Test at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru starting on October 16.
BLACKCAPS Test tour of India
1st Test – 16-20 October, M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
2nd Test – 24-28 October, MCA Stadium, Pune
3rd Test – 1-5 November, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai