India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been ruled out of the third T20I against New Zealand as he continues his recovery from a right adductor strain sustained during the opening match of the series.
The match is scheduled to be played in Wellington on October 27. According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Kishan is recovering well but has yet to regain the fitness required for selection.
The BCCI medical team is monitoring his progress, while Kumar Kushagra, who was brought into the squad as cover, will remain with the team for the upcoming fixture.
Kishan also missed the second T20I after picking up the injury in Christchurch. His absence means he will have to wait to challenge Suryakumar Yadav’s record for the most runs scored by an Indian in T20 internationals in a calendar year.
The left-handed batter has accumulated 1,159 runs in 35 T20Is in 2026 at an average of 36.21 and a strike rate of 171.44. His tally includes one century and seven half-centuries, with a highest score of 103. He also has 174 runs from five ODIs this year, including a century.
Kushagra, Kishan’s teammate from Jharkhand, earned the cover role following a strong run of performances in domestic cricket and for India A. Across his last 10 matches in all formats, he has scored 641 runs in 14 innings at an average of 53.41, including two centuries and four half-centuries.
Kishan’s continued absence could open up an opportunity for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to bat at number three. The youngster, however, managed only four runs off eight deliveries in that position during the second T20I.
Across nine T20 internationals, Sooryavanshi has scored 250 runs at a strike rate of 178.57, including two half-centuries.
India lead the five-match series 2-0 and will look to extend their advantage in the third encounter.
