New Zealand have been hit with a double injury blow ahead of their five-match ODI series against India, with Mark Chapman and Rachin Ravindra both ruled out. The series opens on November 4 at Eden Park in Auckland, and the hosts will now walk into it without two of their most important batters.

For a home side that was already building toward a demanding summer, losing two players before a ball has been bowled is a serious setback. It also hands India a clearer picture of a New Zealand team that is being forced to reshuffle on the eve of the opener.

Chapman’s hamstring problem

Chapman picked up a left hamstring injury during the European T20 Premier League. A fresh MRI scan has shown that he needs roughly two more weeks of rehabilitation to reach full fitness. That timeline rules him out of the entire ODI series.

The injury is the second serious blow to Chapman’s availability in a short space of time, and the medical staff are clearly not willing to gamble with a muscle injury that can flare up again if rushed back too soon.

Rachin Ravindra’s shoulder

The bigger headline may be Rachin Ravindra. He hurt his right shoulder during a promotional shoot, a freak setback that has nothing to do with match play. New Zealand Cricket says he is not currently ready to field at full capacity in white-ball cricket.

The reports do not put a return date on Ravindra’s recovery, which leaves a big question hanging over the start of the series and the wider summer. Fans will be watching every update closely.

What the coach said

Head coach Rob Walter expressed disappointment at losing both players. He made clear that the team management is not willing to take any risks with the upcoming Test series in mind. The message is simple. New Zealand would rather protect their long-term squad than rush a player into an ODI that could cost them more later.

With the upcoming Test series in mind, the team management does not want to take any risk.

Who comes in

New Zealand have moved quickly to fill the gaps. Wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert has been named in the squad for the first three ODIs, having already been selected for the final two. Left-handed batter Henry Nicholls has also been included for the opening three matches.

Allrounder Dean Foxcroft will join the squad for the last two ODIs. Pace bowler Matt Fisher has been added for the first three games after previously being picked only for the final two. Matt Henry, who is recovering from a quad injury, will also join the group, but his availability will only be decided after a fitness assessment.

Captain Mitchell Santner leads the first-three-match squad, which also features Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham as wicketkeeper, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, Will Young and Blair Tickner.

The full schedule

The series runs across five matches, with every game starting at 7:30 AM IST. The first ODI is in Auckland on November 4. The second ODI follows in Wellington on November 7, and the third is in Hamilton on November 10. The fourth ODI takes place at Mount Maunganui on November 13, and the series closes at the same venue on November 15.

Why this matters for Team India

This is where the story turns in India’s favour. New Zealand are not walking into this series at full strength, and the depletion of their batting and allround options gives Team India a real opening to press the advantage across all five games. Every missing name on the other side makes the contest tighter in India’s favour, and that is the kind of edge a touring side wants to exploit early.

There is also a clear point of curiosity for cricket fans. Rachin Ravindra’s shoulder and Mark Chapman’s hamstring are both unresolved in terms of when they return. Whether either player comes back before the Test series, and how quickly New Zealand can settle their combinations, will shape how this tour is remembered.

The first ball in Auckland is only two days away. With two key players sidelined and a reshuffled squad heading into the opener, New Zealand have plenty to prove, and India will be looking to make the most of every opening.