Ishan Kishan ruled out of second New Zealand T20I with groin strain
Kumar Kushagra to the squad as cover for the second game in Christchurch
Ishan Kishan, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter, has been ruled out of the second T20I against New Zealand, set to be played in Christchurch on Saturday (October 24), due to a groin strain. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that the batter had sustained a right adductor strain in the first T20I, which India won by four wickets..
"Ishan Kishan has a niggle in his groin," India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said at a press conference on Friday. "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."
Kotak also confirmed that Kishan’s injury will bring Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the only other frontline batter in the squad, into the equation.
Sooryvanshi hasn’t featured in the XI since the Asian Games. And with the two incumbent openers being in hot form, his stay on the sidelines was expected to be longer. Apart from him, India also have the option of bringing in Shivam Dube, who offers additional utility as a medium pacer.
"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."
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.
