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Tim Southee to serve as captain in the first T20I in Jaipur
New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson will miss the upcoming three-match T20I series against India, opting instead to focus on the Test series that begins on November 25 in Kanpur. In Williamson’s absence, Tim Southee will serve as New Zealand’s captain in the first T20I.
Williamson had arrived in Jaipur – the venue of the first T20I – along with New Zealand’s 15-man squad on Monday evening, less than 24 hours after the team had lost the T20 World Cup final in Dubai to Australia.
With the opening game of the T20I series on Wednesday evening, followed by games on Friday and Sunday night, an NZC release said a “decision was made for Williamson to join the Test specialist group already training in Jaipur as they focus on red-ball preparation.”
NZC also confirmed that fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, who had to skip the T20 World Cup due to a right calf strain, was continuing to “progress well” and is expected to be fit for the T20I series.