Jesse Ryder will miss the Indian Premier League with a groin injury, New Zealand Cricket announced on Thursday.

NZC general manager of cricket Geoff Allott revealed the injury was taking longer to heal than first hoped and the batsman's priority now was to be fit for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in May.

Ryder's manager Aaron Klee claimed the player's main focus was on being in a position to play for New Zealand at the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies.

"Jesse is understandably disappointed about not going to India for the IPL, but he is realistic about returning too early and aggravating his groin injury," said Klee.

"He is better to be completely recovered and play a full tournament in the West Indies than risk rushing back to play IPL and jeopardising his involvement in both tournaments.

"He had a taste of the IPL last year and he certainly wants to earn his place in the 2011 tournament.

"Jesse has his career in front of him and is well aware that when he gets back to full fitness, there will be plenty of opportunities to play in tournaments like the IPL, but the priority is always playing for the Black Caps."

Ryder will spend the next month at the NZC High Performance Centre in Christchurch working with NZC medical and coaching staff.