WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Influential spinner Daniel Vettori will miss New Zealand’s tour of India after failing to recover from a groin strain picked up in the West Indies, cricket chiefs said yesterday.

New Zealand’s most capped Test player was omitted from a 15-man squad for the two-Test tour of India beginning on August 23, along with underperforming batsman Dean Brownlie.

Chief selector Kim Littlejohn said Vettori would be replaced by off-spinner Jeetan Patel, who has been plying his trade in English county cricket since being dropped late last year.

“Jeetan has been in great from for Warwickshire and deserves his opportunity,” Littlejohn said.

Brownlie, who average just 15.75 as New Zealand slumped to a 2-0 Test series loss in the West Indies, was dropped in favour of allrounder James Franklin.

The series will be new coach Mike Hesson’s first in charge of the Black Caps, after veteran John Wright departed after the West Indies series.

New Zealand will also play two Twenty20 internationals in India, with the squad for those matches yet to be announced.

The 15-man New Zealand squad for a two-Test tour of India beginning on August 23:

Ross Taylor (c), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Daniel Flynn, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Tarun Nethula, Jeetan Patel, Tim Southee, Kruger van Wyk, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.