Ishan Kishan ruled out of 3rd T20I vs NZ with adductor strain
Synopsis
Ishan Kishan's low-grade right adductor strain — picked up during India's record-chase in the series opener — has now cost him a second consecutive game. With the wicketkeeper out again in Wellington, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi faces another high-pressure audition after managing just 4 runs in the second T20I, even as India stand one win away from sealing the five-match series.
Key Takeaways
Ishan Kishan is ruled out of the 3rd T20I against New Zealand on 27 October in Wellington due to a low-grade right adductor strain .
The injury was sustained in the first T20I , the same match in which India chased down their highest-ever total in men's T20I history .
Kumar Kushagra continues in the squad as wicketkeeper cover.
15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is set for another opportunity after scoring just 4 runs off 8 balls in the second T20I.
India need one more win to seal the five-match T20I series ; New Zealand aim to fight back at Hnry Stadium .
Ishan Kishan has been ruled out of the third T20I against New Zealand, scheduled for 27 October at Hnry Stadium, Wellington, after failing to recover fully from a low-grade right adductor strain sustained during the series opener, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Monday. The injury has now sidelined the wicketkeeper-batter for multiple games across the ongoing tour.
The Injury and Recovery Timeline
Kishan first suffered the strain during the first T20I, the very match in which India chased down their highest-ever total in men's T20I history — a historic win in which he had featured. The injury subsequently kept him out of the second ODI in Christchurch as well. According to the BCCI, he is 'recovering well' but is yet to regain match fitness ahead of the Wellington fixture.
'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 in Wellington,' the BCCI stated.
Kumar Kushagra to Continue as Cover
Kumar Kushagra, who was added to the squad as cover ahead of the second T20I, will remain with the team for the third match as well. The BCCI said it will continue monitoring Kishan's progress through the remainder of the five-match series.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the Spotlight Again
In Kishan's absence during the second T20I, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was handed a place in the playing XI — a rare opportunity for a teenager at the international level. However, the outing proved challenging: Sooryavanshi managed just 4 runs off 8 deliveries. With Kishan still unavailable for Wellington, the teenage batting prodigy is likely to get another chance to make an impression.
India's Squad for the 3rd T20I
India will head into the Wellington fixture under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, with Sanju Samson as wicketkeeper. The full squad reads: Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Tilak Varma (vc), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Kumar Kushagra (wk).
India enter the third T20I with an opportunity to seal the five-match series, while New Zealand will be eager to reduce the deficit. How the hosts respond and whether Sooryavanshi can seize his second international opportunity will be among the key subplots in Wellington on Tuesday.
Point of View
And the fallback — Kumar Kushagra — has yet to feature. That Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old, is effectively filling a specialist batting slot highlights a selection structure that prioritised explosive youth over experience in the lower middle order. The more interesting story is whether a four-run outing in the second T20I was too small a sample to judge the teenager, or a signal that the transition from age-group cricket to international pace bowling is steeper than the hype suggested. India's series lead means the stakes in Wellington are low enough to persist with him — but the BCCI's handling of Kishan's fitness management across formats on this tour deserves scrutiny.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Ishan Kishan missing the 3rd T20I against New Zealand?
Ishan Kishan is ruled out of the third T20I due to a low-grade right adductor strain he sustained during the first T20I of the series. The BCCI confirmed on Monday that he is yet to regain full match fitness ahead of the Wellington fixture on 27 October.
Who will replace Ishan Kishan in the third T20I squad?
Kumar Kushagra, who was added to the squad as wicketkeeper cover for the second T20I, will continue with the team for the third match in Wellington. Sanju Samson is the primary wicketkeeper in the playing XI.
What is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's role in the India squad?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, aged 15, has been given a place in the playing XI in Kishan's absence. He managed 4 runs off 8 deliveries in the second T20I and is expected to get another opportunity in the third match at Wellington.
What is the current status of the India vs New Zealand T20I series?
India are leading the five-match T20I series and need one more win to seal it. The third T20I takes place on 27 October at Hnry Stadium in Wellington, with New Zealand looking to fight back.
What is India's squad for the 3rd T20I against New Zealand?
India's squad for the third T20I is: Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Tilak Varma (vc), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, and Kumar Kushagra (wk).
