New Zealand’s star all-rounder Amelia Kerr has been ruled out of the remaining two ODIs against India Women after suffering a left quad injury during Thursday’s opening match.

Kerr, a crucial asset for New Zealand, took 4 for 42 and contributed an unbeaten 25 off 23 balls in the first ODI, although his efforts could not prevent a 59-run defeat. Following an assessment on Friday, scans confirmed a grade one quadriceps tear and his recovery is estimated to take around three weeks.

He will return to New Zealand on Sunday to begin his rehabilitation, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has confirmed. The 23-year-old’s injury also jeopardizes her upcoming season in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) with the Sydney Sixers.

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Signed as a high-profile platinum-grade pick, his anticipated three-week recovery schedule could see him miss eight of the Sixers’ 10 league games, casting doubt on his participation in this season’s WBBL. The Sydney Sixers had been counting on Kerr’s all-round abilities to bolster their squad, but may now have to find alternatives to cover his absence for most of the tournament.

New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer expressed his disappointment at losing such a key player during an essential part of the ODI series, saying: “We are really gutted for Melie. “Injuries are always a difficult time for a player and we know how disappointed she is not to be able to play in these games.”

Sawyer emphasized Kerr’s importance to the New Zealand team, adding: “Everyone knows what an integral part of this team Melie is, so she will certainly be missed, but we wish her a speedy recovery.”

Kerr’s absence is a major setback for New Zealand as they aim to strengthen their position in the Women’s ODI Championship. The top six teams in the rankings will secure direct entry to the 2025 ODI World Cup.

New Zealand is currently in sixth place out of ten teams and is fighting to improve its position. Losing a key player like Kerr, who recently emerged as the highest wicket-taker with 15 scalps in the T20 World Cup, may affect the team’s performance as it looks to solidify its ranking.

The New Zealand team, which currently does not have a replacement for Kerr, will play the remaining ODIs against India on October 27 and 29 in Ahmedabad before focusing on an upcoming series against Australia in December.