Ishan Kishan unavailable for third T20I against New Zealand after adductor strain

Ishan Kishan will not be available for India's third Twenty20 International against New Zealand in Wellington, India's bowling coach Morne Morkel said on Monday (October 26, 2026), with the decision taken as a precaution. The move follows a right adductor strain the 28-year-old suffered during the series-opener.

Kishan injured his right adductor during the opening match of the series last week; the right adductor is a group of muscles located on the inner side of the thigh. He missed the second T20I and was replaced in the playing XI by teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra was added to the squad as cover following Kishan's injury.

Morkel provided the update at the pre-match press conference in Wellington on Monday. He said Kishan was doing well and would train that day but would not be available for selection for the next match as a precaution. Morkel delivered the assessment ahead of the third match of the five-game series.

The BCCI issued a press release confirming that Kishan is recovering but has not regained match fitness and is therefore ruled out of the third T20I to be played on October 27, 2026 in Wellington. The statement said the BCCI Medical Team is monitoring Ishan's progress and that Kumar Kushagra will continue to be with the team for the third T20I.

India lead the five-match series 2-0, with the third T20I scheduled for October 27, 2026 in Wellington. With Kishan unavailable, Kushagra will remain as the squad's cover for the wicketkeeper-batter role for that fixture.

Kishan's absence is confirmed for the October 27 match in Wellington and the BCCI Medical Team will oversee his recovery while Kumar Kushagra stays with the touring party for the third T20I.