India lose Ruturaj Gaikwad for New Zealand T20Is

Gaikwad has been sidelined by a wrist injury. A similar injury prevented his participation in last year's T20I series against Sri Lanka.

Gaikwad had also missed last year's ODI series against New Zealand after testing positive for the coronavirus.

The 25-year-old has been capped once in ODI cricket and nine times at T20I level since debuting in international cricket in 2021.

India and New Zealand will meet for three T20Is from 27 January to 1 February 2023. The matches will be played in Ranchi, Lucknow and Ahmedabad.

India have rested batsman Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the series. The hosts will be captained by all-rounder Hardik Pandya, whose vice-captain will be batsman Suryakumar Yadav.

Yadav was recently named the International Cricket Council's T20I Cricketer of the Year for 2022.

He scored 1,164 runs in 31 matches at an average of 46.56 and strike-rate of 187.43 last year.

"Yadav had a stellar year with the bat breaking an array of records and setting a benchmark like never before in the format. He became just the second batter to make more than 1,000 runs in a calendar year in T20Is and ended the year as the highest run-getter," read a statement from the ICC.

"Yadav hit a stunning 68 sixes during the year, easily the most recorded by anyone in a year in the format's history. The Indian was the key batter for his team through the year, smashing two centuries and nine half-centuries. 

"He was at his stupendous best during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, recording three half-tons in six innings and averaging nearly 60 during the tournament."