WELLINGTON: Martin Guptill was on Monday ruled out of the New Zealand side for the Twenty20 International series against India after failing to recover from a back injury.

Coach Gary Stead said Guptill failed a fitness test but he remained hopeful the big-hitting opener would recover in time for the One-day International series against Bangladesh starting next week.

Guptill was injured before Sunday’s fifth ODI against India in Wellington which the tourists won by 35 runs to wrap up the series 4-1.

He has been replaced by all-rounder Jimmy Neesham for the three-game Twenty20 series, which starts here in Wellington on Wednesday.

The New Zealand squad includes newcomer Daryl Mitchell, son of former rugby player and one-time All Blacks coach John Mitchell, who is now an England assistant coach.

Squad: Kane Williamson (captain), Doug Bracewell, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2019