Rachin Ravindra's plan to face India in October just hit a wall. The 25-year-old all-rounder dislocated his right shoulder on Wednesday, September 16, while attempting a diving catch during a promotional shoot in Auckland. He landed awkwardly on a safety mat, a moment that turned a routine filming day into a medical emergency.
The good news? Medical specialists found no major structural damage on Friday. The bad news? His recovery timeline is fuzzy. Performance Manager Mike Sandle admitted the team is "gutted" but stressed that the 25-year-old's return depends entirely on how he responds to early rehabilitation. With the T20I series kicking off on October 22, Ravindra has barely a month to prove his shoulder is ready for the rigors of international cricket.
New Zealand isn't about to gamble. Head coach Rob Walter made it clear: no rushing. With a brutal Test calendar looming over the next six months, the management is refusing to take unnecessary risks. "We don't want to rush Rachin back sooner than we need to," Walter said. The squad for the India series will be named early next week, and Ravindra's progress will be the deciding factor.
So, does New Zealand lose their key T20 weapon? Maybe. The freak accident has thrown the team's preparations into a state of cautious uncertainty. All eyes are now on his rehab room, not the field.