Ishant has had reccurence of the ankle injury that had him in doubt ahead of the tour of New Zealand.
Recurrence of his right ankle injury has pushed Ishant Sharma out of the Indian playing XI for the second and final Test of the series against New Zealand in Christchurch, claims a report in Cricbuzz a day before the all-important encounter begins on Saturday (February 29).
The Indian pacer went fine in the nets on Thursday but was absent from training the day after. It is understood, Ishant informed the team management about the discomfort and pain in the same ankle that he injured recently playing for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy.
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He was sent for medical tests on Friday, the results of which are still awaited.
Ishant's potential absence could pave way for Umesh Yadav, who was seen having a lengthy chat with head coach Ravi Shastri and Bharat Arun in Friday's net session which Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami opted out of after having gone through the drill a day earlier at the Hagley Oval.
The injury to Ishant is a massive blow to India's chances of pulling off a series-levelling victory as the pacer looked the best of the visiting bowlers on show in the last Test, bagging a five-fer (5/68) in his team's embarrassing ten-wicket defeat.
There is also uncapped Navdeep Saini in the squad but Umesh is likely to get the nod considering his experience. The right-arm pacer has also been in good form, taking 23 wickets at 13.65 in four Tests in the recent home season against South Africa and Bangladesh.
However, Umesh's away record gives a terrible reading, with him previously struggling for control and consistency in conditions abroad in England, Australia and South Africa.
The 32-year-old speedster has never played a Test in New Zealand.
(Inputs from Cricbuzz)