Ishan Kishan ruled out of India’s 3rd T20I vs New Zealand at Wellington

India will continue to be without their wicket-keeper batter, Ishan Kishan, for the third T20I of the five-match series between New Zealand and India, which is scheduled to take place on October 27 at the Hnry Stadium in Wellington. He also missed the second game of the series due to injury, as his place was taken by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. 

Kishan has been in superb touch recently in the shortest format of the game, having smashed a few small yet aggressive knocks during the West Indies series. He, however, failed to put a good score in the opening Christchurch T20I of the series.

Ishan Kishan ruled out of the 3rd T20I against New Zealand

Kishan suffered a low-grade right adductor strain in the first match of the series as being revealed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on October 26. The board stated that the Jharkhand batter had been recovering well at the time and issued a statement.

“Ishan Kishan is recovering well from his low-grade right adductor strain, which he sustained during the first T20I of the series against New Zealand. He is yet to regain match fitness and is ruled out of the third T20I to be played on October 27, 2026, in Wellington. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring Ishan's progress.” The BCCI added in the statement.

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Kumar Kushagra, who was drafted as his replacement in the second T20I, will keep his place in the team for the third encounter as well, set to be played in Wellington. Kushagra has smashed 694 runs in 31 innings at a strike rate of 145.18 with five half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 86 runs. 

Will India go with an unchanged playing XI in Wellington?

India are expected to continue the unchanged playing XI for the third game. Sooryavanshi batted at number three and returned with a low score of four runs off eight balls. But he is anticipated to continue in the playing XI as Kishan could be back for the fourth game.

In the second T20I of the series, the twin half-centuries from Glenn Phillips (70 runs off 43 balls) and Bevon Jacobs (58 runs in 46 balls) propelled the New Zealand side to 180 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

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India were under pressure in the chase being at 112/6 in 14.5 overs before the 42-run stand for the sixth wicket and the 69-run stand for the seventh wicket earned them the win by four wickets. Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 51 runs off 26 balls.