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New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20I series against India after scans confirmed a low-grade tear in his right calf, New Zealand Cricket announced on October 29, 2026. Matt Fisher has been called in to replace him for the final two matches, while Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson remain on track to join the Black Caps for the upcoming one-day international series.
Henry also sustained an injury during the second T20I, with scans showing a low-grade tear in his right quadriceps that is expected to require one to two weeks of recovery. New Zealand Cricket said he remains on track for the ODI series, which begins on November 4. The updates leave the team balancing immediate T20I needs with the workload and fitness of its pace attack for the longer white-ball leg.
Ferguson felt pain in his right calf during the second T20I against India in Christchurch. Further assessment confirmed the low-grade tear, and the fast bowler is expected to need around another week of recovery before returning to play. That timeline has ruled him out of the remaining matches in the current series.
Matt Fisher, who had joined the squad as bowling cover, will take Ferguson’s place for the fourth and fifth T20Is. Fisher’s inclusion gives New Zealand another pace option as they look to finish the series strongly after falling behind early. Ferguson had been keen to feature in front of a sell-out crowd at Eden Park, but the team will prioritise his recovery.
Head coach Rob Walter acknowledged the disappointment of losing two experienced quicks to injury, while also expressing hope that Ferguson and Henry could be involved in the ODIs. The latest update makes Ferguson’s availability for the T20I leg clear, but his return to the ODI squad will depend on his recovery over the coming days.
Henry experienced pain in his right quadriceps during the second T20I, and scans identified a low-grade tear. The expected recovery period is one to two weeks. He had already been scheduled to sit out the remaining T20Is as part of workload management and was due to assemble with the ODI squad in Auckland on November 2.
New Zealand Cricket said Henry remains on track for the ODI series despite the scan result. That is an important distinction: the update is encouraging, but it is not a guarantee that he will play every match. His recovery will need to progress as expected before the team can make a final decision on selection and workload.
New Zealand’s five-match ODI series against India begins on November 4. Henry’s ability to return would provide experience and control to the pace attack, particularly with the team looking to manage its fast bowlers through a packed international schedule.
Kyle Jamieson’s schedule is based on planned workload management rather than a newly reported injury. He is due to remain in Wellington and play for Canterbury in the second round of the Ford Trophy on October 31, before rejoining the Black Caps on November 2 for preparations for the ODI series.
The plan allows Jamieson to get match time in domestic cricket before returning to the national team. New Zealand have used similar arrangements during the T20I series, moving players between squads and domestic fixtures to balance immediate selection needs with a longer stretch of international cricket.
Jamieson’s availability will give New Zealand another tall pace option for the ODI leg, provided he completes the planned schedule and is selected. His domestic appearance also gives the coaching staff an opportunity to manage his overs and readiness before the five-match series.
The injury news arrives with New Zealand trailing India 3-0 in the five-match T20I series. India won the opening match in Christchurch by four wickets, repeated that margin in the second T20I, and then won the third match in Wellington by six wickets. The fourth T20I is scheduled for Auckland on October 30, with the final match in Hamilton on November 1.
New Zealand will now turn to the available pace options, including Fisher, as they attempt to finish the T20I series on a stronger note. With the ODI leg beginning only days after the fifth T20I, the management of injuries and workloads will remain central to the team’s planning.
The latest update offers a mixed picture for New Zealand: Ferguson is definitely out of the remaining T20Is, while Henry’s ODI prospects remain positive but dependent on recovery. Jamieson’s route back to the national side is scheduled, with domestic cricket first. The team’s priority will be to avoid aggravating injuries while preserving enough pace depth to challenge India across the formats.
