Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been ruled out of the second T20I against New Zealand after sustaining a low-grade right adductor strain during the series opener at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The Board of Control for Cricket in India  confirmed that Kumar Kushagra has been brought into the squad as specialist cover for the second T20I, scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the same venue.

Kushagra was already in Christchurch as part of the India A touring group, which allowed the selection committee to act swiftly without requiring any additional travel arrangements. The BCCI Medical Team is keeping a close watch on Kishan's condition on a day-by-day basis, though no return date or recovery timeline has been communicated at this stage.

India head into the second T20I with a 1-0 series lead, having won the opening match at Hagley Oval by four wickets on October 22, 2026. Kishan's contribution in that first T20I was limited to a single run before New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner dismissed him.

What is the nature of Kishan's injury and what has the BCCI confirmed?

The 28-year-old left-handed batter sustained a low-grade strain to his right adductor muscle group during the first T20I at Hagley Oval. The adductor muscles run along the inner thigh and are central to batting movement, wicketkeeping footwork and running between the wickets, making the injury particularly significant for a specialist keeper-batter.

The BCCI confirmed through its media advisory that the medical team continues to assess Kishan's progress without specifying any recovery window. His availability for the remaining matches in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand remains uncertain until the medical staff issue a further update. No direct quotes from BCCI officials or team management were included in the advisory.

Who is Kumar Kushagra and what does India's updated squad look like?

Kumar Kushagra is a wicketkeeper-batsman from Jharkhand, who has risen through the ranks and grown in prominence across all formats for his domestic team. The right-handed batter, who was part of India's Under-19 side in 2020, played a key role in Jharkhand's 2025/26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy triumph, scoring 422 runs in ten matches at a strike rate of 161.88. He finished as the side's second-highest run-getter, behind Kishan, whom he coincidentally replaces in the squad.

He was travelling with the India A squad in Christchurch at the time Kishan's injury was confirmed. His proximity to the senior group made him the practical and immediate choice for the Men's Selection Committee when naming a specialist cover ahead of the second T20I.

India's updated squad for the 2nd T20I vs New Zealand:

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).