Kane Williamson opts out of India T20Is, focuses on Tests

Jaipur: New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson will miss this week’s three-match T20I series against India, with Tim Southee to captain the side in his absence.

Williamson decided to sit out of the T20I series as he prioritised his preparations for the Test series which begins 25 November.

"Kane Williamson will miss this week’s three-game T20 series against India as he prioritises preparing for the Test series starting on November 25 in Kanpur. #INDvNZ," Blackcaps, a twitter handle operated by New Zealand Cricket said.

Kane will now join New Zealand’s Test specialist group for training in Jaipur. The T20I series begins on Wednesday in Jaipur, three days on from New Zealand’s loss in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Final.

Williamson scored a record 85 off 48 in that match, the equal highest score in a T20 World Cup Final.

Southee will be one of five players in New Zealand’s touring squad available to play in both series, alongside Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner.

In a boost to New Zealand’s T20I series hopes, Lockie Ferguson is expected to be available for selection with his recovery from a right calf strain progressing well.

Black Caps T20 squad for India

Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee

Black Caps Test squad for India

Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Will Somerville, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, Will Young. (UNI)