IND vs NZ: Ben Sears ruled out due to knee injury, Jacob Duffy announced replacement

New Zealand cricket has been dealt by a big blow as pace bowler Ben Sears is ruled out of the upcoming Test series against India due to a knee injury. The Black Caps, already struggling with the delayed arrival of star batter Kane Williamson, have now faced another setback ahead of the challenging tour.

Sears, who had made a strong Test debut during the recent home summer, experienced pain in his left knee during training sessions in Sri Lanka. Subsequent scans back at home revealed a tear in his meniscus, leading to the difficult decision to withdraw him from the squad. The exact timeline for Sears' recovery is uncertain, but team management is hopeful for his return.

Meanwhile, Jacob Duffy, an uncapped bowler from Otago Volts has been named his replacement. Duffy, Otago's all-time leading wicket-taker with 299 First-Class wickets to his name, brings considerable experience to the squad. While he has represented the Kiwis in limited-overs formats, this call-up presents him with a potential Test debut. 

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It’s an exciting opportunity for Jacob: Gary Stead

Black Caps head coach Gary Stead spoke about Sears' injury but remained optimistic about Duffy's inclusion. Stead also mentioned the challenges of selecting players during the off-season in New Zealand, noting that Duffy's recent experience in the County Championship with Nottinghamshire played a crucial role in his selection.

“We’re obviously disappointed for Ben who made a strong start to his Test career during the home summer and offers a genuine pace option. It remains to be seen how long we’ll be without him for, but we’re hopeful his road to a full recovery will be a short one.

"It’s an exciting opportunity for Jacob who has been around Test the squad before. With three Tests ahead of us he has every chance of making his Test debut. Jacob's recent experience playing for Nottinghamshire in the County Championship certainly pushed his place. His performances in white-ball cricket for the BLACKCAPS have always been impressive and we’re confident he'll be able to contribute if called upon,” Stead said in a statement.

Adding to the team's challenges, Williamson's arrival in India will be delayed due to a groin strain sustained during the Sri Lanka series. As a precautionary measure, uncapped batter Mark Chapman has been called up as cover. The series against India begins at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, followed by matches in Pune and Mumbai.