The high-stakes five-match T20I series between India and New Zealand began on January 21, 2026, at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. This series is a critical final rehearsal for both nations ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup scheduled for February. The ‘Bangladesh reason’ behind James Neesham’s absence from IND vs NZ 1st T20IThe reason James Neesham is not playing in the 1st T20I is his extraordinary commitment to the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and his franchise, the Rajshahi Warriors. Sarkar praised Neesham’s Warrior Spirit noting that the player handled all the formalities himself to ensure he could play in the BPL final on January 23. We all knew how important a player like Neesham is for our team, so we tried everything possible.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha January 21, 2026 13:44 UTC