Ishan Kishan ruled out as India weigh Sooryavanshi call for second T20I
India face a selection decision after Kishan injury
India will be without Ishan Kishan for the second T20I against New Zealand after he suffered a “low-grade, right adductor strain”. The injury could prompt a change to the batting order as the tourists return to Hagley Oval in Christchurch, where they lost the series opener by five wickets after New Zealand chased 230.
India could keep the same top three and bring in Shivam Dube to add strength to the middle order. Another option is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old who has featured at the Asian Games but has yet to become a regular in India’s first-choice plans. If selected, India would need to decide how to fit him into an opening combination that has generally featured Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma.
Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said the attention around Sooryavanshi had initially been intense. “I genuinely felt that such hype is not good for a player as well, for a young 15/16-year-old boy, that everyone is saying that he should play, and he is not getting a place,” Kotak said, adding that the youngster had matured and understood the value of waiting for an opportunity.
High-scoring opener sets up another test
The second match is scheduled for October 24 at 8pm local time. The opener produced 455 runs in total: New Zealand posted 230 after contributions including a rapid innings from Glenn Phillips and a late burst by Bevon Jacobs, before India completed the chase with Naman Dhir’s late hitting proving decisive.
Conditions could again favour a substantial total, though both teams will look to make the most of early movement. India’s Shreyas Iyer described the surface as slow at first before it flattened out, while Samson noted that the new ball swung but came nicely off the pitch. Cool evening weather and dew are also expected to shape the contest.
New Zealand likely to hold their course
New Zealand have no immediate injury concerns and are not expected to make a forced change. Matt Henry and Adam Milne conceded heavily with the new ball in the first game, but the hosts have fast-bowling alternatives in Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy. Phillips has described the team’s pace depth as a “great problem to have”.
Phillips also spoke about the work behind his switch-hit, saying players at the IPL “probably got sick of me spending an hour batting and then 45 minutes batting left-handed as well”.