Ishan Kishan, India's keeper-batter, has been ruled out of the upcoming second T20I against New Zealand due to an injury. The second T20I of the five-game series will also be played in Christchurch on October 24, Saturday.
Ishan Kishan didn’t have a good outing in the first T20I, scoring one run before his dismissal. And now the BCCI has confirmed that Kishan will miss the upcoming second T20I after he sustained a low-grade right adductor strain during the first T20I.
The BCCI also confirmed that Kumar Kushagra, who is in New Zealand with the India A side, has been added to the Indian T20I squad as a cover.
“Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan sustained a low-grade right adductor strain during the first T20I against New Zealand and is ruled out of the second T20I to be played on Saturday. The Men’s Selection Committee has added Kumar Kushagra to the squad as cover for the second T20I.
Kushagra, who is currently in Christchurch with the India A squad, will join the India squad for the second T20I. The BCCI Medical Team continues to monitor Kishan’s progress,” the BCCI statement read.
Kishan's injury was why India reshuffled their batting order in the first T20I, moving Tilak Varma up to No. 3, the spot Kishan normally occupies. Kishan batted at No. 5.
"Ishan Kishan has a niggle in his groin. I know there was speculation [about the change in the batting order], but it wasn't a change as such. It was because of the groin strain [to Kishan]. I think he is unlikely for one game,” India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had said at the press conference on Thursday night.
After the second T20I on October 24 in Christchurch, the two teams will move to Wellington, Auckland, and Hamilton for the last three T20Is on October 27, 30, and November 1. The five T20Is will be followed by five ODIs and then two Test matches.
India’s updated squad for 2nd T20:
Shreyas Iyer [C], Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson [WK], Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Tilak Varma [VC], Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Kumar Kushagra [WK]
