Wellington, October 26 — India will again be without wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan when they face New Zealand in the third T20I at Wellington on Tuesday, October 27, after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Monday that he has not yet regained match fitness.

Source: ANI via LatestLY

"Ishan Kishan is recovering well from his low-grade right adductor strain, which he sustained during the first T20I of the series against New Zealand. He is yet to regain match fitness and is ruled out of the third T20I to be played on October 27, 2026 in Wellington. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring Ishan's progress," the BCCI said in its update, adding that Kumar Kushagra will continue to be with the team for the third T20I.

Source: IANS

Kishan picked up the strain during the series opener at Christchurch and also missed the second T20I, in which teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi came into the playing XI in his place and scored four runs off eight balls.

A precaution, says bowling coach Morkel

India bowling coach Morne Morkel told reporters ahead of the match that the decision was precautionary. "Ishan is doing well. He will be training today. For tomorrow, I think he is not available for selection, just as a precaution," Morkel said at the pre-match press conference in Wellington.

Source: Sportskeeda

According to ANI, Kishan has scored 1,159 runs in 35 T20Is this year at an average of 36.21 and a strike rate of 171.44, and stands just short of Suryakumar Yadav's record of 1,164 runs by an Indian in T20Is in a calendar year — a mark he will now have to chase later in the five-match series, fitness permitting.

Sources: BCCI update reported by ANI and IANS; Morne Morkel's remarks reported by Sportskeeda.