Chapman, Foulkes sidelined as New Zealand faces India T20 tour setback

New Zealand will be without two key players for the upcoming Twenty20 series against India following injury assessments by the country's cricket board. Chapman, a prominent middle-order batter, and Foulkes, a pace bowler, have both been deemed unavailable for the series.

The New Zealand Cricket Board made the announcement on Friday, citing the injuries as the reason for the players' unavailability. While specific details regarding the nature and severity of the injuries were not disclosed, the board's decision to rule both players out suggests they will require time to recover before returning to international competition.

The absences represent a significant loss for the touring squad as it prepares to take on India in the Twenty20 format. Chapman's exclusion affects New Zealand's batting depth, while Foulkes' unavailability further stretches the team's pace bowling resources during the India tour.

New Zealand will now need to activate alternative squad members to fill the gaps left by the injured pair as the team finalises its preparations for the series.