Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has suffered a low-grade right adductor strain and is ruled out of the second T20I on Saturday at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The official update was provided by the BCCI on Friday morning, saying the medical team is monitoring his progress.
"Ishan Kishan is ruled out of the second T20I against New Zealand due to a low-grade right adductor strain, which he sustained during the first T20I of the series. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress,” the BCCI said in an official update.
According to India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, Kishan's injury was the main reason behind him coming out to bat at No.5 instead of his usual No.3 spot in the series opener against New Zealand in Christchurch on Thursday.
{{/usCountry}}According to India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, Kishan's injury was the main reason behind him coming out to bat at No.5 instead of his usual No.3 spot in the series opener against New Zealand in Christchurch on Thursday.
{{/usCountry}}Kotak also added that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi might replace Kishan in the second T20I of the five-match series.
“There was a lot of speculation I have also seen, just because Ishan had a strain in his groin, the batting order was changed,” Kotak told reporters, adding that it is “unlikely he will play tomorrow’s match as well”.
“If Ishan doesn’t play, unless he recovers completely, which the medical team will advise, Vaibhav could definitely step in for him. He is one of the strongest contenders," he added.
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The BCCI has announced that Kumar Kushagra has been added to the squad as a cover for the second T20I.
"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 stated.
The first T20I between India and New Zealand saw the former chasing down 226 with four wickets in hand and two balls to spare. However, Tilak Varma coming out to bat at No.3 ahead of Kishan raised a few eyebrows.
Varma managed only 6 off 11 balls, while Kishan too failed to make an impact, lasting just three balls and scoring one. While Varma was dismissed by Michael Bracwell, Mitchell Santner got the better of Kishan.
Sooryavanshi dilemma
The 15-year-old Sooryavanshi last played for India at the Asian Games, where he featured in both the semi-final (against Sri Lanka) and the final (against Pakistan). He then warmed the bench for the five-match T20I series against the West Indies.
Ahead of the series opener against New Zealand, skipper Shreyas Iyer had said that Sooryavanshi needs to wait for his opportunity as the team already has two consistent openers in the form of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson.
“He is very young; he has more years to get opportunities. It’s not like he can walk in right now, because our openers are scoring consistently, and they have won the World Cup,” Iyer had told reporters before the first T20I.
“So, if you see, when he is coming overseas, he will get a fair idea how to play on these particular wickets. Next time, whenever he comes under these conditions, he will be very well prepared. And he can also instruct the other team members, whoever comes here for the first time,” he added.
The youngster, who scored 776 runs in the IPL for the Rajasthan Royals, has so far played eight T20Is for India, amassing 246 runs at a strike rate of 186.36 with two half-centuries.