Wellington seamer Hamish Bennett has been included in the Black Caps' Twenty20 squad to face India.

Hamish Bennett will return to the Black Caps for their Twenty20 series against India this month – almost three years after his last appearance for his country.

The Wellington Firebirds seamer has been included in a 14-strong squad for the five-match series, which begins in Auckland next Friday.

He last played international cricket in May 2017, when the Black Caps navigated a one-day tri-series with Bangladesh and Ireland without several regulars who were busy with Indian Premier League commitments.

Before that, his last appearance was in January 2014, in an ODI against India. If selected in the playing XI, he will be making his Twenty20 international debut.

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Bennett's callup comes on the back of strong performances in the domestic Super Smash.

The Firebirds are set to host this year's final at the Basin Reserve on Sunday and the 32-year-old played a big part in getting them there, taking 14 wickets at an average of 18.42, a strike rate of 15.64, and an economy rate of 7.06.

Bennett is joined in the pace bowling ranks by Tim Southee, Blair Tickner, and Scott Kuggeleijn, with Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi the spinners.

Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson are both recovering from injuries sustained on the recent test tour of Australia and were not considered.

Selector Gavin Larsen said Bennett's callup was just reward for his form and perseverance.

"We're delighted to have Hamish back in the fold for what will be a huge series against India," Larsen said.

"Over the past few seasons he's consistently been one of the top domestic white-ball bowlers and we've been impressed how he's been able to evolve his game.

"We all know he brings good pace and bounce but it's the clever variations he's added that make him such a well-rounded T20 bowler."

Kane Williamson will captain the side, returning to the fold after sitting out the series against England in November while nursing a hip injury and being rested for the one before that against Sri Lanka.

ANDREW CORNAGA/PHOTOSPORT Kane Williamson will captain the Black Caps in their Twenty20 series against India.

His return is set to force a reshuffle of the batting order, as Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Tim Seifert, Colin de Grandhomme and Ross Taylor have been locked in to the top five positions in recent times.

De Grandhomme will only be available for the first three matches of the series, with Tom Bruce replacing him for the final two.

Jimmy Neesham has not been selected after missing two recent Super Smash matches with a quad injury, and will play for New Zealand A in a one-day series against India A next week, with Daryl Mitchell chosen ahead of him.

"We see both Daryl and Jimmy as important all-rounders in the T20 format," Larsen said.

"With a travelling squad of just 13 and the need to balance the options for the series, Daryl gets this opportunity against India as a reward for his consistent form for the Black Caps."

India named a star-studded squad led by Virat Kohli earlier this month, including Rohit Sharma, the side's vice-captain, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja.

AT A GLANCE

Black Caps T20 squad: Kane Williamson (c), Hamish Bennett, Tom Bruce (matches 4-5) Colin de Grandhomme (matches 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner.

India T20 squad: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma (vc), Lokesh Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur.

Fixtures

Friday, January 24, 7.50pm: 1st T20 at Eden Park, Auckland,

Sunday, January 26, 7.50pm: 2nd T20 at Eden Park, Auckland

Wednesday, ​January 29, 8pm: 3rd T20 at Seddon Park, Hamilton

Friday, ​January 31, 8pm: 4th T20 at Sky Stadium, Wellington

Sunday, ​February 2, 8pm: 5th T20 at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui