New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell will miss the rest of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 due to a re-injury of his left calf. The 34-year-old was recovering from a calf tear he suffered in the third ODI against India last month, but he experienced a recurrence during warm-ups before the game against Afghanistan on Sunday.
Scans confirmed the injury, which is expected to need around three weeks of recovery. New Zealand’s head coach Rob Walter described this as a tough situation for Bracewell.
“We’re all feeling for Michael. It’s really tough to be ruled out of a World Cup, and I know how much representing New Zealand means to him. Michael worked hard to get back, but unfortunately has faced this setback. We wish him a smooth recovery,” Walter said, as reported by Cricbuzz.
New Zealand has named Cole McConchie as a travelling reserve, although he has not been officially added to the squad yet. McConchie has played 145 T20 matches and recently finished a strong domestic season, leading the Canterbury Kings with 14 wickets at an economy rate of 7.71.
Walter pointed out that McConchie’s experience will be beneficial for the team during the tournament. New Zealand is set to play their third Group D match on Saturday, June 14, against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
“Cole is a seasoned player. He brings a valuable all-round skill set along with a lot of T20 experience. It’s great to have an experienced player, especially in a World Cup,” Walter added.
New Zealand currently leads Group D with two wins from two matches. They won against Afghanistan by five wickets in their opener at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on February 8, and then beat the United Arab Emirates by 10 wickets on February 10, starting their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign perfectly.