Ishan Kishan ruled out of second T20I; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi likely to replace him, says Kotak

India batter Ishan Kishan is expected to miss the second T20I against New Zealand at Hagley Oval on October 24, team batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said on Thursday after the opening match in Christchurch. Kotak confirmed Kishan has a groin problem and that teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could come into the playing XI if Kishan does not recover.

The development follows comments two days earlier from India captain Shreyas Iyer that Sooryavanshi would need to bide his time to break into the T20I side. Sooryavanshi was left out of India’s XI for the Christchurch opener owing to a crowded top order and now stands as a likely replacement for Kishan in the second match of the five-game series.

Kishan, who is listed as India’s No. 3 batter in T20Is, was moved down the order in the first game when Tilak Varma returned to No. 3. Kishan eventually batted at No. 5 after Varma’s dismissal, faced three deliveries and was out when he attempted a six and skyed the ball to Finn Allen.

On the reasons for the batting shuffle and Kishan’s availability, Kotak told the press: "Ishan Kishan has a groin niggle, that's why Tilak Varma was promoted. Ishan is also unlikely to play in the second T20I. 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."

Sooryavanshi, described in reports as a teenager, has not featured in a T20I since the Asian Games final in Nagoya and was advised to remain patient by both captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Gautam Gambhir. “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 had added.

India will meet New Zealand in the second T20I at Hagley Oval on October 24; India lead the five-match series 1-0 after winning the opener by four wickets with two balls to spare.