Ishan Kishan Ruled Out of Third T20I Against New Zealand

India batter Ishan Kishan will miss the third T20 International against New Zealand as he has not yet regained full match fitness despite recovering from his injury, bowling coach Morne Morkel confirmed. The BCCI also reportedly shared an update on its social media account. Kishan’s absence could give young batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi another opportunity in the ongoing five-match series, with India leading 2–0. The third T20I is scheduled to be played in Wellington on Tuesday, where India will look to secure another victory and clinch the series. Speaking at a press conference, Morkel said the BCCI medical team was closely monitoring Kishan’s condition and that he would not be available for the upcoming match.

Morkel also addressed the discussion surrounding Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return to the international setup after nearly four years. He said the experienced bowler’s skills and experience would benefit the team, but added that he needed time to settle back into international cricket despite his strong performances in recent IPL seasons. Explaining the decision to select Prince over Mayank for the second T20I, Morkel said Prince’s ability to bowl yorkers and perform effectively in the death overs influenced the choice, although Mayank had bowled well in the opening match. He also highlighted Wellington’s strong winds as a key challenge, saying the team had prepared the players to adapt to the conditions ahead of the match and its upcoming commitments in New Zealand.