NZ's Blair Tickner ruled out of India tour: Details here
What's the story
New Zealand fast bowler Blair Tickner is likely to miss the Black Caps's white-ball tour of India in January 2026, as per The New Zealand Herald. The pacer suffered a dislocated shoulder during the ongoing Test series against the West Indies. He was injured while diving for a catch on the boundary on day one of the second Test at Basin Reserve. Here are further details.
Injury fallout
Recovery timeline and impact on upcoming series
Tickner's injury forced him to leave the match immediately, and medical assessments have estimated a recovery time of six to 12 weeks. The India tour starts on January 11 and includes five ODIs and three T20Is. Given this timeline, Tickner is likely to miss the entire series. His absence adds to New Zealand's growing injury woes, with several other players also sidelined due to various issues.
Recovery efforts
Tickner's rehabilitation and return to domestic cricket
Despite the setback, Tickner is optimistic about his recovery and has already started rehabilitation. "I'm already back in the gym, doing my rehab. I feel like I'm playing good cricket, so I want to get back out there," Tickner was quoted as saying by India Today. The injury halted his momentum at Test level as he had taken four wickets for 32 runs from 16 overs in the first innings of the series opener.
Information
Tickner owns 25 ODI wickets
Coming to Tickner's numbers in ODI cricket, the pacer has claimed 25 wickets from 16 games at an average of 33.52. This includes three four-wicket hauls.
Rehabilitation progress
Tickner's focus on regaining strength and confidence
With his shoulder back in place, Tickner is focused on regaining strength and confidence, especially in the field. He said, "So, [the shoulder is] back in place and back doing rehab and back doing some conditioning sessions." Despite being disappointed at missing the high-profile India tour, he hopes to return to domestic cricket for Central Districts in the T20 Super Smash starting on Boxing Day.