RCB bowler ruled out of T20 World Cup 2026; replacement named

The former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)and current New Zealand fast bowler, Adam Milne, has been ruled out of the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup due to a hamstring injury that he picked up in the SA20 when he was featuring for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in their last group-stage clash against the MI Cape Town side. 

Adam Mille picked up the injury in his first over for the Eastern Cape, and scans have shown the extent of the injury as he had taken 11 wickets at 16.27 and an economy rate of 7.61 during the tournament before being replaced by Kyle Jamieson in the T20 World Cup squad.

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“We're all gutted for Adam. He'd worked so hard to get himself ready for the tournament and was looking back to his best in his eight games for the Eastern Cape Sunrisers. It's unfortunate timing for Adam, and we wish him a speedy recovery.” The head coach of the Blackcaps, Rob Walter, expressed on the news.

Kyle Jamieson replaces injured Adam Milne in T20 World Cup 2026

The lanky New Zealand pacer, Kyle Jamiesonj, has already been part of the ongoing five-match T20I series for the Kiwis against India as he ended with a nightmarish figure of 2/54 in his four overs during the opening clash of the series at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, where the home side posted 238 runs for the lose of seven wickets in their allotted 50 overs.

“It's great that Kyle is already with us here in India. He's an integral member of our pace-bowling group and has hit the ground running on this tour. He's a hard worker with a good set of skills and experiences that will hold him in good stead for the tournament.” Walter shed light on the inclusion of Jamieson.

New Zealand had previously announced that Matt Henry and Lucky Ferguson may take brief periods of paternity leave during the World Cup, as a further traveling reserve will be added to the New Zealand squad before the tournament, which they will begin against Afghanistan on February 8 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.