Punjab Kings bought all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell, wicket-keeper batter Josh Inglis, all-rounder Aaron Hardie and pacer Xavier Bartlett in the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Marcus Stoinis has battled back injuries in recent times, but he was also part of Australia's winning ICC Men's Cricket World Cup winning squad last year.

With the likes of all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and Aaron Hardie ruled out of the series, Australia was forced to make a change to their squad

Aaron Hardie was not initially chosen for the three-match series, which begins in Wellington on Wednesday, but was added to the side on Friday after Marcus Stoinis was ruled out with a back injury.

Injured all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has been ruled out of Australia's three-match T20I series against New Zealand due to a back issue

Australia will come into the fourth T20I with reinforcements in their bid to level the series.