New Zealand will next face Pakistan in two-Test series.
New Zealand’s opening batsman Martin Guptill and spinner Ish Sodhi have picked up injuries during the defeated third and final T20I against Pakistan on Tuesday, December 23, in Napier.
Pakistan won the final T20I by four wickets on Tuesday, as the Black Caps wrapped up the three-match T20 series 2-1 by winning the first two games at home before heading to two-Test series starting with the first Boxing Day Test on December 26 at Bay Oval.
Sodhi suffered a strain to his left hamstring and has returned to Christchurch. The leg-spinner will have scans to ascertain the extent of the strain as he is expected to be out of action for “at least two weeks” while Guptill has suffered a laceration to the pad of his right index finger.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has confirmed the latest injuries on Wednesday (December 23).
NZC said in a statement: “Blackcaps spinner Ish Sodhi has a confirmed strain to his left hamstring, sustained while fielding in the third T20I against Pakistan in Napier last night. Sodhi has returned to Christchurch today and will have scans to ascertain the extent of the strain and the recovery plan, although he is expected to be out for at least two weeks.”
Meanwhile, the extent of Guptill's injury is yet to be known, awaiting an x-ray result to determine the rehabilitation for the opening batsman, said NZC.
The statement concluded, “Martin Guptill suffered a laceration to the pad of his right index finger while trying to stop a ball in the field in the same match. Guptill had the wound cleaned and closed on the night and his rehabilitation will be determined following the results of an x-ray on the injury.”
(With ANI Inputs)