Michael Bracewell on track to recover for T20 World Cup
What's the story
New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell, who missed the recent five-match T20I series against India due to a calf injury, is on track to recover in time for the T20 World Cup. New Zealand head coach Rob Walter confirmed that Bracewell's recovery has been "really good" and is on course for their warm-up game against USA in Mumbai. "I mean his progression has been really good and he's made good progress,"Walter said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Injury woes
New Zealand's injury woes in India
Despite being in India for three weeks, New Zealand have not been able to field their best XI due to injuries and player unavailability. The team almost managed a full-strength XI toward the end of the T20I series but all-rounder Jimmy Neesham fell ill. They also chose not to rush Lockie Ferguson back into action, further disrupting their combination.
Player activity
Neesham's absence and other concerns
Though Neesham hasn't played for NZ since November 2025, he has been active in franchise T20 cricket. He has played in Bangladesh (BPL) and UAE (ILT20) leagues with conditions similar to India and Sri Lanka, the venues for the T20 World Cup. "Our guys have been very active from a T20 point of view, mostly involved in the series as well. So from a preparation point of view, I feel like we can't really feel to be unready," asserted Walter.
Player performance
Finn Allen's sensational form
Finn Allen, after smashing 38 sixes in a single BBL season for Perth Scorchers, brought his big-hitting to India. He scored 80 off 38 balls against India, testing their attack. However, Walter acknowledged that conditions in Australia are very different from those in India and the question always remains if form can transfer from venue to venue.
Player return
Ferguson's return ahead of the T20 World Cup
Walter was also pleased with Ferguson's return from injury ahead of the T20 World Cup. After injuring his calf during the ILT20 and pulling out of the BBL, Ferguson made a strong comeback in the fifth T20I against India. He took both Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson with trademark rapid deliveries on a flat pitch. With Adam Milne ruled out of the T20 World Cup, Ferguson will be New Zealand's enforcer in the competition.
Score expectations
High-scoring thriller between India and New Zealand
The fifth T20I between India and New Zealand saw a total of 496 runs, the second-highest match aggregate in T20I cricket. However, Walter expects scores to be varied during the World Cup where there's more at stake. He said that intent often changes a bit when there's more on the results and perhaps that might not be the case for some pool games.