The New Zealand Cricket has named Rachin Ravindra as a replacement for Daryl Mitchell for the upcoming fifth T20I match against Pakistan.
Rachin Ravindra replaces Daryl Mitchell for Pakistan 5th T20I
The All-rounder Daryl Mitchell has been sidelined from the Kiwis squad for the upcoming 5th T20I on Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand 2024.
Mitchell smashed two half-centuries across the four T20Is and will replaced by all-rounder Rachin Ravindra, who was rested for the series.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead stated that the decision was taken after thinking about Mitchell’s workload and also upcoming international schedules.
“We’ve made a call to give Daryl Mitchell a break from this game. We’ve obviously got some important Test matches leading up,” Stead said.
“Daryl’s a three-format player, so it’s really important that we manage his workload over this period. He’s highly likely to play a big part in the rest of our [home] season.”
“So we just thought this is an opportune time [to give him a break], given the series is won.”
“But it’s also nice to introduce Rachin back into the side. He’s been on a period of break and came back and played one game for Wellington Firebirds [in the domestic T20s]. He fits well into the team in the role that we’d like him to play.”
Mitchell has played in 28 of New Zealand’s 34 matches across formats. He missed the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh in September 2023.
New Zealand will be playing two Tests against South Africa starting on February 04 and then will play in a three-match T20I series and two test matches from February 21.
On the other hand, Ravindra played for New Zealand in the third ODI match against Bangladesh in Napier on December 23. Stead also said that the final call on the participation of the opener Devon Conway in the fifth T20I against Pakistan would be known only on the morning of the match.
Conway was ruled out of the fourth T20I match due to Covid-19. “We’ll make a call tomorrow morning on Devon; he still has symptoms at the moment,” Stead said.
“But hopefully the next 24 hours, and that will be a much better position for him. We won’t know that until tomorrow morning, and we’ll make the call then.”
New Zealand and Pakistan will be playing their 5th T20I match on January 21 at Hagley Oval.
