Finn Allen expected to miss opening T20Is in India if Perth Scorchers make it to BBL finals

New Zealand opener Finn Allen may not be available for the start of the upcoming five-match T20I series against India if his Big Bash League team, Perth Scorchers, qualify for the finals. With the series beginning on January 21 in Nagpur, the Black Caps could be without one of their explosive batter during their preparation phase ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.

New Zealand is set to tour India from January 11 to 31, 2026, for three ODIs and five T20Is. The tour is set to be the final preparation opportunity before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February 2026. While the ODI matches will be played in Baroda, Rajkot, and Indore, the T20Is will take place across Nagpur, Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram.

However, Allen’s BBL duties might clash with the initial part of the series. The Scorchers conclude their league phase on January 17, and the BBL final is scheduled for January 25. This timeline puts Allen’s early availability for the India tour in doubt.

The 26-year-old confirmed that his travel plans depend entirely on how far the Perth Scorchers progress in the BBL. If the team reaches the final, Allen will only be able to join the squad around the fourth T20I on January 28 in Visakhapatnam. But if the Scorchers fail to qualify for the finals, he will be available for the entire T20I series.

“Pending selection, I’ll head straight to India once the Big Bash finishes up for us [Scorchers]. Playing for New Zealand is still, for me, the pinnacle and the reason why I love playing is to represent my country. But cricket’s obviously evolving and changing year on year. New Zealand Cricket’s been really good to work with over the last wee while. [I’m] confident about getting back into some Black Caps stuff after the Big Bash and hopefully can continue that,” Allen told ESPNcricinfo.

Allen will return to cricket in the BBL after recovering from a foot stress fracture he suffered during the Major League Cricket (MLC) season in July. Before the injury, he had smashed a record-breaking 151 featuring 19 sixes in the MLC. His last international appearance came in March, where he hit 27 off 12 balls against Pakistan.

The New Zealand tour of India will witness Vadodara hosting its first men’s international match in over 15 years. Following the India tour, the Black Caps will head straight into another T20I series against Afghanistan before entering the World Cup.