Kane Williamson won't be available for at least the first Test against India

New Zealand has received a significant blow before their upcoming Test series against India, as star batter Kane Williamson is set to miss the first match of the three-Test series. There are also concerns regarding his availability for the subsequent matches.

Williamson felt a strain in his knee during the recent series against Sri Lanka, which has prevented him from joining the squad for the tour of India. In his absence, New Zealand has included Mark Chapman in the squad for the Tests, which begin on October 16 in Bengaluru.

New Zealand selector Sam Wells remains hopeful that Williamson will return for the later Tests. "Based on the advice we've received, the best way for Kane to recover is to rest and continue rehabilitation to prevent further aggravation of the injury. We are optimistic that if his rehab progresses as planned, he will be available for the latter part of the tour," Wells stated.

He added, "Not having Kane from the start of the tour is undoubtedly disappointing, but it provides an opportunity for someone else to showcase their skills in this important series."

Just days ago, New Zealand suffered a whitewash in the Test series against Sri Lanka, leading to Tim Southee stepping down from the captaincy. Tom Latham will lead the team in the series against India. The rest of the squad remains unchanged from the Sri Lanka tour, although Michael Bracewell will play only the first Test. Ish Sodhi will replace him for the second and third Tests.