Ishan Kishan Ruled Out of Second New Zealand T20I With Groin Strain
India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been ruled out of the second T20I against New Zealand, which is set to be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday (October 24), after picking up a groin strain.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that the left-hander had sustained a right adductor strain during the first T20I, which India went on to win by four wickets. The injury also helps explain a shuffle in the batting order that had generated considerable speculation.
Kotak Explains the Change in Batting Order
India's batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, addressed the situation at a press conference on Friday, making clear that the change in the batting order was forced by injury rather than tactical.
"Ishan Kishan has a niggle in his groin," Kotak said. "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. I think he is unlikely for one game."
Sooryavanshi Enters the Frame
Kotak confirmed that Kishan's absence will bring Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the only other frontline batter in the squad, into the equation. Sooryavanshi has not featured in the XI since the Asian Games, and with the two incumbent openers in hot form, his stay on the sidelines had been expected to last longer.
"If Ishan can't play - unless he recovers completely, the medical team will tell [us] - then obviously Vaibhav comes into the calculations as a batter," Kotak said. "[He is] definitely one of the strongest persons who can play."
Beyond Sooryavanshi, India also have the option of bringing in Shivam Dube, who offers additional utility as a medium pacer - a flexibility that could prove useful in the pace-friendly conditions in Christchurch.
A Series on the Move
The second match of the series will also be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch before the two teams head to Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton for the next three T20Is. India will be keen to keep their momentum after taking the opener by four wickets, even as they reshuffle their batting resources to cover for Kishan.
Milestones Put on Hold
The injury arrives at an unfortunate moment for Kishan, who, as of prior reporting on October 22, was closing in on several personal landmarks. According to that earlier coverage, the wicketkeeper-batter needed just 46 runs to become the seventh Indian player to reach 2,000 runs in T20Is, and was also on the verge of breaking Suryakumar Yadav's record for the most T20I runs by an Indian in a calendar year. Whether those targets remain within reach now hinges on how quickly he recovers from the groin strain.