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New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss for the second consecutive time and elected to field first against an South African lineup in the ongoing Pakistan ODI tri-nation series on Monday. Coming off a dominant 78-run victory over Pakistan, the Blackcaps entered the contest with strong momentum but were forced to make a significant change in their playing XI. With South Africa missing several key players in their squad, New Zealand will aim to take full advantage of their opponents’ weakened lineup and continue their winning streak in the tournament.
Reason behind Rachin Ravindra’s absence from the game against South Africa
During New Zealand’s opening match against Pakistan on Saturday, Rachin Ravindra suffered an unfortunate blow to his forehead while fielding. The incident occurred in the deep mid-wicket region, where he was stationed to take a catch of Khushdil Shah. As the ball came towards him, he seemingly lost sight of it at the last moment, leading to an awkward attempt that saw the ball strike him on the head instead of settling in his hands.
The impact left him visibly shaken, and medical staff were quickly called onto the field to assess his condition. While he was able to walk off without requiring immediate medical assistance, further examinations revealed concussion symptoms, prompting the team management to rest him as a precautionary measure. Given the importance of player safety and his long-term availability for the tournament, the decision was made to keep him out of the second match against South Africa.
Also WATCH: Rachin Ravindra suffers a nasty blow on the forehead during the PAK vs NZ ODI Tri-series opener
New Zealand announces Rachin’s replacement for the ODI tri-series game
With Ravindra ruled out, New Zealand turned to their experienced campaigner, Devon Conway, as his replacement. The Blackcaps’ official social media account on X (formerly Twitter) confirmed the change, stating that Ravindra was ruled out due to a head injury and that Conway would take his place in the playing XI.
Conway, who has been a vital part of New Zealand’s batting unit across formats, was expected to bring stability and reliability to the top order in Ravindra’s absence. Known for his solid technique and adaptability, Conway’s inclusion provided an experienced left-handed option against South Africa’s bowling attack. His ability to anchor the innings while also accelerating when required made him an ideal replacement as New Zealand aimed to build on their impressive start to the tri-nation series.
With this change, New Zealand entered the contest with a slightly tweaked batting combination, but their core unit remained strong as they looked to extend their winning run in the tournament.
A toss win for Mitchell Santner who elects to bowl first in Game 2. One change to the XI as Devon Conway comes in for Rachin Ravindra who is ruled out with the head injury sustained against Pakistan. Watch play LIVE in NZ via the Sports Central Official YouTube channel 📺 pic.twitter.com/Kphf556EYC
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 10, 2025
