Ishan Kishan unlikely to play in fourth T20I at Eden Park

Ishan Kishan is unlikely to feature for India in the fourth T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday. The match is the fourth of a five-match series that India lead 3-0.

Kishan entered the series as the No. 1 ranked T20I batter and played the opening game in Christchurch, scoring 1 off 3. He was then sidelined for the next two matches with a low-grade right adductor strain and was replaced in India’s XI by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Sooryavanshi produced a quick cameo in the third T20I in Wellington, scoring 45 off 19 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 236.84. Together with Abhishek, the opening pair put up 118 in the first six overs and added 133 for the opening wicket in 7.1 overs, a performance the report described as a world record for the highest powerplay score in T20I cricket. Abhishek scored what the report called his fourth T20I century, making 113 off 38 balls with 11 sixes and 9 fours at a strike rate of 297.37.

Multiple media reports stated that Kishan was nearing full fitness and was spotted practising in the nets ahead of the fourth T20I. Bowling coach Morne Morkel previously confirmed Kishan ‘‘is unavailable for the 3rd T20I. He’s here to train and is doing well. But his unavailability is mostly precautionary’’.

The article notes Kishan is part of an ODI series starting on November 4, and that he is therefore unlikely to be selected for the remaining two T20Is as he prepares for the ODIs; it adds that Indian management might retain Sooryavanshi at the top of the order and give him more chances. India will seek to extend their lead to 4-0 in the series.

The fourth T20I is scheduled at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday at 12:30 AM IST, a venue the report describes as offering flat wickets and one where another high-scoring contest is possible.