New Zealand Release 2 Players From T20I Squad After Losing Three Matches In A Row

After losing three T20I matches in a row against India, New Zealand on Monday (January 26) released fast bowler Kristian Clarke and top-order batter Tim Robinson from their T20I squad. 24-year-old Kristian Clarke made his T20I debut for the Black Caps in Nagpur on January 21 against India and picked up one wicket for 40 runs in his quota of four overs. Whereas Robinson scored 21 runs from 15 balls in the first T20I of the ongoing five-match series.

They were replaced by Matt Henry and Tim Seifert in New Zealand’s playing XI for the second T20I match and then didn’t feature in the third T20I as well.

According to a statement posted by Black Caps on X, since Jimmy Neesham, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Seifert have joined the team’s camp, they have released

Kristian Clarke and Tim Robinson from the T20 squad in India.

In the statement New Zealand also added that top-order batter Finn Allen will join the squad in Trivandrum on Thursday ahead of the fifth T20I on Saturday, January 31.

“Kristian Clarke and Tim Robinson have been released from the BLACKCAPS T20 squad in India with Jimmy Neesham, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Seifert now in camp. Finn Allen will be the final squad member to join the side on Thursday in Trivandrum,” New Zealand tweeted on Monday.

Kristian Clarke and Tim Robinson have been released from the BLACKCAPS T20 squad in India with Jimmy Neesham, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Seifert now in camp.

Finn Allen will be the final squad member to join the side on Thursday in Trivandrum.#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/PARjD3EsHf

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 26, 2026

Allen, who holds the world record for scoring most sixes in a T20 match, finished the first three T20Is against India due to his Big Bash League (BBL) commitments. The 26-year-old right-handed batter was part of the Perth Scorchers’ squad, and in 11 matches, he scored a total of 466 runs to finish as the highest run-getter in the tournament.

New Zealand’s updated squad: Mitchell Santner (C), Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (WK), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Zakary Foulkes, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, James Neesham, Kyle Jamieson, Michael Bracewell, Bevon Jacobs, Finn Allen (only for 5th T20I)