Kumar Kushagra Joins India Squad as Ishan Kishan Sidelined
Kumar Kushagra has been called up as cover for Ishan Kishan for the second T20I against New Zealand after Kishan suffered an adductor strain.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra has been added to the national squad as cover for the second T20I against New Zealand. This move comes after Ishan Kishan was ruled out of the upcoming clash due to a medical setback.
Injury Blow for Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan sustained a low-grade right adductor strain during the opening T20I of the series. While the BCCI Medical Team is keeping a close eye on his recovery, he will not be available for the second match scheduled for Saturday. Kishan brings a significant track record to the team, having amassed 1,955 runs across 67 T20Is with an average of 31.03 and a strike rate of 148.55. He remains a part of the squad for the subsequent five-match ODI series.
Convenient Timing for Kumar Kushagra
The transition for Kushagra is expected to be seamless as he is already present in Christchurch, New Zealand, as part of the India A squad. The Men’s Selection Committee acted swiftly to integrate him into the main squad for the second T20I, which will be hosted at the Hagley Oval.
India Holds the Momentum
India enters the second encounter with a 1-0 lead in the five-match series following a thrilling four-wicket win in the first game. The victory was powered by a dominant 67 off 33 balls from Sanju Samson, while Naman Dhir provided the finishing touch with an explosive, unbeaten 42 off just 15 deliveries. Captain Shreyas Iyer also played a crucial role, contributing 42 runs off 28 balls.
The first match was a high-scoring affair, with New Zealand posting 225/4—their highest-ever T20I total on home soil. This was driven by a blistering 82* from Glenn Phillips and 45 from Finn Allen.
Updated India Squad for 2nd T20I:
- Shreyas Iyer [C]
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson [WK]
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Tilak Varma [VC]
- Axar Patel
- Shivam Dube
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Naman Dhir
- Prince Yadav
- Mayank Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Kumar Kushagra [WK]
India's extensive tour of New Zealand continues with the remaining T20Is, followed by a five-match ODI series and two Test matches.