New Zealand pick seven fast bowlers for the India T20Is as Ravindra is ruled out

New Zealand have built a 16-man squad around seven fast bowlers for next month's five-match T20I series against India, with Rachin Ravindra ruled out by a dislocated shoulder

Mitchell Santner will lead the side in a series that begins at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on 22 October and runs over 11 days across four cities.

It is the opening leg of a long Indian tour of New Zealand that also takes in five ODIs and two Tests, and the first meeting between the sides since India beat New Zealand in this year's T20 World Cup final.

Thirteen of the players from that World Cup campaign are retained. Adam Milne returns after more than a year away from international cricket, and Michael Bracewell is back having missed the tournament through injury.

Seven quicks in a squad of 16

Milne comes into a seam group that already holds Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson and Nathan Smith, giving the selectors seven specialist fast bowlers in a squad of 16.

Head coach Rob Walter described it as a near full-strength group. "We've got a near full-strength squad that covers all bases and I'm excited to see how we compete against the current T20 world champions," he said.

Finn Allen and Tim Seifert are paired again at the top of the order, with Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips and Bevon Jacobs among the batting options behind them.

Milne returns after a year away

Milne has not played for New Zealand since a fixture against Zimbabwe more than a year ago, his absence the result of a run of injuries rather than selection.

Bracewell's recall is the other comeback in the squad. The all-rounder missed the T20 World Cup injured and returns for the first international assignment of the home summer.

Fast bowler Ben Sears remains unavailable as he works his way back from an ankle injury.

Ravindra out for about six weeks

Ravindra dislocated his right shoulder at a promotional event in Auckland on 19 September, an injury New Zealand Cricket expects to keep him out for roughly six weeks.

That timeline rules him out of the T20Is but leaves the ODI series from 4 November within reach, and the selectors have set it as his target.

"We're gutted for Rachin," Walter said. "He's going to play a big role for us this summer so it's important that he doesn't rush his rehab, but we're optimistic he'll be back for the ODIs."

Rotation across a crowded summer

Walter indicated the whole squad will be used across the five matches, with the volume of cricket ahead shaping how the bowlers in particular are handled.

"Our priority is winning games and putting the best team on the park, but we also have to keep in mind the volume of cricket in the coming months," he said. "We're very fortunate with the depth that we've got to call upon, so we'll look to use all 16 squad members throughout the series as we manage workloads."

A rematch with the world champions

India arrive as the reigning T20 world champions, having beaten New Zealand by 96 runs in the final in Ahmedabad to take a record third title in the format.

New Zealand Cricket said more than 76,000 tickets had been sold a month out from the opening match, and Walter expects full houses through the series.

"It's going to be awesome to welcome India to our shores and get summer underway," he said. "India is a quality team and a challenging opposition, so to take them on in our own conditions in front of Kiwi fans is really exciting."

The squad is Santner (captain), Allen, Bracewell, Chapman, Conway, Duffy, Ferguson, Foulkes, Henry, Jacobs, Jamieson, Milne, Mitchell, Phillips, Seifert and Smith.

The T20I series starts in Christchurch on 22 October, with the ODIs following from 4 November and two Tests closing a 12-match tour.

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