Ishan Kishan will miss the second T20I against New Zealand due to a leg injury sustained in the series opener, opening the door for teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi to potentially enter the playing eleven and forcing the team management to reconsider their batting order strategy.

Ishan Kishan will miss the second T20I against New Zealand due to a leg injury sustained in the series opener, opening the door for teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi to potentially enter the playing eleven and forcing the team management to reconsider their batting order strategy.

Ishan Kishan will miss the second T20I against New Zealand due to a leg injury sustained in the series opener, opening the door for teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi to potentially enter the playing eleven and forcing the team management to reconsider their batting order strategy.

In-form batter Ishan Kishan will be unavailable for the second T20I against New Zealand after suffering a leg injury during the series opener on Thursday. All eyes have once again turned to teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, as he could get a call-up to the playing eleven.

Ishan Kishan injured his leg during the opening T20I, and doctors were closely monitoring his condition, the BCCI said in a statement while declaring him unfit for the second T20I. India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, said Kishan’s injury was the reason Tilak Varma was promoted to bat at No. 3 in the opening match. The Bihar batter faced just three balls in the first match, scoring one run before being dismissed.

Kotak reportedly indicated that Suryavanshi could replace Kishan in the second game. However, with the opening combination of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma performing consistently, the question is where Suryavanshi would fit into the batting order. Samson may be asked to bat at one-down, allowing Suryavanshi to open alongside Sharma—a strategy that India have tried before. But it remains to be seen if Samson will be asked to sacrifice his regular position yet again, given his form in recent games.

Suryavanshi has so far played only as an opener in the Indian T20 team. He also opens the batting in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Suryavanshi last featured in the playing XI against Pakistan at the Asian Games. It remains to be seen if the Men in Blue will test the teenager at number three or further down in the middle order against a strong New Zealand side.

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