Irfan Pathan defends Gambhir as Ishan Kishan ruled out with groin strain
Synopsis
Irfan Pathan's defence of Gautam Gambhir cuts to a familiar problem in the social media era: snap verdicts on team selection before injury context surfaces. With Ishan Kishan now confirmed out of the second T20I with a groin strain, and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set for a potential debut recall, the five-match series against New Zealand is already a more complicated selection story than it first appeared.
Key Takeaways
Irfan Pathan publicly defended coach Gautam Gambhir on 23 October after criticism over Ishan Kishan batting at number five in the first T20I vs New Zealand .
BCCI confirmed Kishan has been ruled out of the second T20I in Christchurch with a right adductor (groin) strain .
India won the series opener by four wickets , chasing 226 with two balls to spare; Sanju Samson top-scored with 67 off 33 balls .
Teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 15 , is the frontrunner to replace Kishan in the playing XI.
The remaining three T20Is are scheduled on 27 October, 30 October , and 1 November in Wellington, Auckland, and Hamilton.
Former India left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan on Friday, 23 October came out in defence of head coach Gautam Gambhir, arguing that the backlash over Ishan Kishan batting lower down the order in the first T20I against New Zealand at the Hagley Oval was premature — the wicketkeeper-batter had been managing a niggle that was subsequently confirmed as a right adductor (groin) strain.
Why Kishan Batted Lower
The injury forced India into an unplanned reshuffle for the series opener, with Tilak Varma promoted to number three — Kishan's customary position. Kishan entered at number five but survived only three balls, scoring just 1 before being caught on the leg-side boundary off New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner. The sequence, seen without context, invited sharp criticism of Gambhir's selection decisions.
Pathan's Plea for Patience
Pathan pushed back publicly via his account on X, appealing to fans and pundits to withhold judgment until the full picture emerged. 'So, Ishan Kishan had a niggle during the first T20, which is why he batted lower down the order,' he wrote. 'But everyone was quick to go after @GautamGambhir for changing the batting order. Criticising him has become everyone's favourite timepass these days. Please, please wait a bit before passing judgment. Don't jump to conclusions without knowing the full story.'
Pathan broadened the message beyond cricket: 'And this applies to everything in life. In the rush to get 'views' and 'numbers' on social media, you might end up hurting someone without even knowing the full story. Think before you judge.'
BCCI Confirms Kishan Out of Second T20I
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Friday that Kishan has been ruled out of the second T20I, scheduled in Christchurch on Saturday, with the right adductor strain sustained during the first match. India had won that opener by four wickets, chasing down a record 226 with two balls to spare.
Sanju Samson anchored the chase with a 33-ball 67, sharing a 93-run opening stand inside the Powerplay with Abhishek Sharma. Captain Shreyas Iyer contributed 42 off 28 balls, while Naman Dhir finished with an unbeaten 42 off 15 deliveries.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Frontrunner to Replace Kishan
With Kishan sidelined, teenaged opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 15, is the frontrunner to slot into the playing eleven. Sooryavanshi has been on the bench since featuring in the semi-final and final of India's Asian Games gold medal-winning campaign in Japan. The only other batting option in the squad is seam-bowling all-rounder Shivam Dube, who is not a like-for-like replacement for a specialist wicketkeeper-batter.
After the Christchurch fixture, both squads travel to Wellington, Auckland, and Hamilton for the remaining three T20Is on 27 October, 30 October, and 1 November.
Point of View
In fact, dictated by a player fitness issue — information the public did not have at the time. The deeper concern is whether India's medical and communication protocols around player niggles are fit for purpose in an era of real-time scrutiny; had the BCCI communicated Kishan's condition even partially before the match, much of the noise would have been avoided. With Sooryavanshi now potentially entering a high-stakes series at 15, the selection conversation will only intensify.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Ishan Kishan bat at number five in the first T20I against New Zealand?
Kishan was managing a right adductor (groin) strain during the first T20I at Hagley Oval, which is why he batted lower than his customary number-three position. The BCCI confirmed the injury after the match, ruling him out of the second T20I in Christchurch.
What did Irfan Pathan say in defence of Gautam Gambhir?
Pathan posted on X urging fans and critics to wait for the full facts before judging Gambhir's batting order decisions. He wrote that criticising Gambhir had 'become everyone's favourite timepass' and cautioned that rushing to judgment on social media can hurt people unfairly.
Who is likely to replace Ishan Kishan in the second T20I?
Fifteen-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is considered the frontrunner to replace Kishan in the second T20I in Christchurch on Saturday. He has been on the bench since India's Asian Games gold medal-winning campaign in Japan.
What was the result of the first T20I between India and New Zealand?
India won the first T20I at Hagley Oval by four wickets, chasing down a record 226 with two balls to spare. Sanju Samson top-scored with 67 off 33 balls, while captain Shreyas Iyer (42 off 28) and Naman Dhir (42 not out off 15) also contributed.
When and where are the remaining T20Is between India and New Zealand scheduled?
After the second T20I in Christchurch, the series moves to Wellington, Auckland, and Hamilton for the final three games on 27 October, 30 October, and 1 November respectively.
