Ishan Kishan has been ruled out of India’s third T20I against New Zealand in Wellington on 27 October. The BCCI said he is recovering from a low-grade right adductor strain and is yet to regain match fitness. Kumar Kushagra remains with the squad as cover.
Wellington, New Zealand: India will go into the third T20I against New Zealand without Ishan Kishan. The BCCI confirmed on Monday that the wicketkeeper-batter has not recovered from a low-grade right adductor strain, ruling him out of the match in Wellington on 27 October.
What the BCCI said
In an update, the board said Kishan is recovering well from the strain, which he sustained during the first T20I of the series. He is “yet to regain match fitness”, the BCCI said, and its medical team is monitoring his progress. The statement did not give a return date, so his availability for the remaining matches of the series is not yet known.
Kushagra stays as cover
Uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra, who has been touring New Zealand with the India A squad, joined the T20I squad as cover before the second match and will stay with the group for the third. The BCCI has not announced any other change to the squad, and India have not confirmed their line-up for Wellington.
India lead the series
The setback comes with India in command. They won the first T20I in Christchurch by four wickets, chasing a record 226, and then took the second by four wickets as well, completing a 181-run chase with one ball to spare. That puts them 2-0 up in the five-match series, and a win in Wellington would seal it.
After Wellington, the series moves to Auckland on 30 October and Hamilton on 1 November. The board has not said whether Kishan will be available for either match.
