Rachin Ravindra doubtful for India T20I series after dislocating shoulder in freak shoot accident

New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra is facing a race against time to be fit for the upcoming five-match T20I series against India after suffering a dislocated right shoulder during a promotional shoot in Auckland.

The freak accident occurred while the 25-year-old was attempting a diving catch onto a safety mat during filming with Sky. An initial assessment conducted by medical specialists revealed no major structural damage, but Ravindra's timeline for return remains uncertain as he begins his rehabilitation program.

New Zealand Performance Manager Mike Sandle confirmed the details of the incident and expressed sympathy for the young star.

"It was a really unfortunate injury," Sandle said. "We're gutted for Rachin and our key priority is making sure he recovers well and gets back on the field as soon as he can."

"As with all commercial shoots involving our players, the activities were agreed in advance by all parties, with appropriate safety measures in place. It was a bit of a freak accident, and we'll continue to review our processes around events like this in the future."

Caution Urged Ahead of Packed Test Schedule

With the T20I series against India scheduled to get underway on October 22, Ravindra has just over a month to regain full fitness. However, the Black Caps management is reluctant to take unnecessary risks given the demanding Test schedule awaiting the national team over the next six months.

Head coach Rob Walter emphasised that the team will not rush the star all-rounder back into competitive action prematurely.

"With a heavy schedule of Test cricket in the next six months, we don't want to rush Rachin back sooner than we need to. He's in great hands in terms of his rehab and we look forward to welcoming him back soon," Walter explained.

New Zealand are expected to announce their squad for the India T20I series early next week, where Ravindra's early progress in rehab will heavily influence the selectors' final decision.