A groin strain has ruled Ishan Kishan out of India's second T20I against New Zealand, which will be played in Christchurch on Saturday. A BCCI social-media statement on Friday said the batter had sustained a right adductor strain during the first T20I on Thursday.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has been on the bench for India's last four T20Is after playing in the semi-final and final of their victorious Asian Games campaign, is the likeliest candidate to take Kishan's place in the XI. The only other batter in India's squad is the seam-bowling allrounder Shivam Dube, who would not be a like-for-like replacement.
Kishan's injury was the reason India rejigged their batting order in the first T20I, promoting Tilak Varma to No. 3, Kishan's usual position. Kishan batted at No. 5 and was caught on the leg-side boundary off Mitchell Santner for 1 off three balls.
"Ishan Kishan has a niggle in his groin," India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said at a press conference on Thursday night. "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 [to Kishan]. I think he is unlikely for one game."
Chasing 226, India won by four wickets, with two balls to spare, with opener Sanju Samson top-scoring with 67 in 33 balls and Shreyas Iyer hitting 42 in 28 balls and Naman Dhir hitting 42 not out in 15 balls.
Christchurch's Hagley Oval will host its second successive match of the five-T20I series. The teams will then move to Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton for the last three T20Is on October 27, 30 and November 1. The five T20Is will be followed by five ODIs and then two Test matches.