3 New Zealand Players Who Can Leave Pakistan Series Midway Due To IPL Call

Daryl Mitchell for CSK in IPL 2024 (Source:@Vidyadhar_R/X.com)

The Champions Trophy 2025 is done and dusted and after a short break, New Zealand and Pakistan are all set to lock horns in a five-match T20I series which will be followed by three ODIs. New Zealand will be without some of their star players with many of them set to feature in IPL while Pakistan have made some bold changes with new captain and vice-captain for the T20I series.

Pakistan players cannot play in IPL but New Zealand stars do, and some of the players included in the current T2OI squad, may well get a call-up from the league as a replacement player. Thus, they might have to leave the Pakistan series midway, and here are three players who are most likely to encounter such a situation.

1. Daryl Mitchell

Daryl Mitchell has been one of the most consistent batters for New Zealand in the last few years and had a decent IPL 2024 as well. He played for CSK and scored 318 runs at an average of 28.90 and strike-rate of 142.60. However, surprisingly, he did not get any bid in the mega auction, but with Harry Brook pulling out from IPL, DC could bring him as replacement.

Daryl Mitchell's T20 Record

Also, teams like RCB, LSG also have injury concerns, while there are bound to be injuries once the season starts as has been the case over the years. So, Mitchell can be a good replacement choice with massive experience of shortest format as evident from the table. 

He also has the ability to deliver in crunch situations and has different gears to his batting which makes him flexible with his batting order. He can chip in with ball too if needed and all these makes him a quality player, bound to attract franchises if there is requirement.

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2. Michael Bracewell 

Michael Bracewell is named as the captain of New Zealand's side in the T20I series which shows the kind of skillsets he brings to the table. He played for RCB in IPL 2023 and his non-selection in IPL 2025 was mostly because of his long absence from the game due to injury. He is now fully fit though and made an impact with his all-round skills in Champions Trophy 2025.

He played a sparkling unbeaten knock of 53 under pressure in the final against India while he also picked up eight wickets in five matches. As seen in the table, the man has truckloads of experience in the shortest format and is a genuine all-rounder who can change the game both with the bat and ball.

He would add depth to any IPL team and can be very effective with the ball in Lucknow and Chennai. Thus, there is a huge danger that the captain of New Zealand series might leave the series midway due to lucrative IPL contract.

3. Matt Henry

The right-arm pacer was in stellar form in Champions Trophy 2025 and picked 10 wickets in four matches. However, he injured himself in the semifinal and missed the finale and now has been picked for fourth and fifth T20I against Pakistan. It means that he is all set to get fit soon, and it makes him a good replacement option for a pacer in IPL if anyone gets ruled out.

There are plenty of pacers like Lockie Ferguson, Anrich Nortje, Josh Hazlewood who are coming into IPL after a long injury layoff, so there are high chances that a slot might open for a pacer. Henry has always been a gun new-ball bowler, but he has improved his death-bowling skills as well and has the knack of finding wickets in almost every game.

Matt Henry's T20 Bowling Record

His brilliant strike-rate in T20 game shows that he is a genuine wicket-taker and the experience of delivering in tough international games makes him one of the player who might have to leave Pakistan series midway for IPL.

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