New Zealand have been dealt a significant setback ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup, with star fast bowler Adam Milne ruled out due to a hamstring injury. The New Zealand Cricket Board confirmed on Friday that 31-year-old Kyle Jamieson has been named as Milne’s replacement in the squad.

The injury comes at an unfortunate time for Adam Milne, who had been building momentum after featuring for Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 earlier this month. Milne sustained the injury while bowling during an SA20 fixture on Sunday, January 18. Subsequent scans revealed the extent of the damage, forcing the selectors and team management to make a late but necessary change.

The express pacer had been working hard to regain peak fitness and rhythm, and his absence will be keenly felt in New Zealand’s pace attack. Head coach Rob Walter expressed disappointment over Milne’s injury, highlighting the effort the fast bowler had put in leading up to the tournament.

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Walter noted that Milne was showing encouraging signs of returning to his best form during his recent outings and deserved sympathy given the timing of the setback. In Jamieson, however, New Zealand have turned to a familiar and reliable option.

❌ Adam Milne has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup with a torn left hamstring

✅ Kyle Jamieson replaces him in New Zealand’s squad pic.twitter.com/g3x5GV3NwS

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) January 23, 2026

The tall fast bowler is already part of the white-ball squad touring India and has been serving as a travelling reserve for the T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. His immediate availability and international experience made him a straightforward replacement.

Walter emphasised Jamieson’s importance to the pace unit, pointing out that the seamer has settled in quickly on the tour and brings bounce, movement, and versatility across phases of the innings. New Zealand are expected to announce a replacement travelling reserve in the coming days.

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The Black Caps will play a warm-up match against the USA on February 6 in Mumbai before beginning their campaign against Afghanistan on February 8 in Chennai. With matches against UAE, South Africa, and Canada to follow, New Zealand will be keen to move past the group stage after a disappointing showing in the previous edition.