Sooryavanshi in focus as India step out for milestone T20I against New Zealand

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s potential return has grabbed the headlines again as India gear up to face New Zealand in the second T20I of the five-match series at Hagley Oval here on Saturday.

India, the reigning two-time T20 World Champions, will be stepping onto the field for their 300th T20I match and will be looking to double up their 1-0 lead in the series after they won a run-scoring feast at the same venue on Thursday.

That was also India’s highest T20I chase as the likes of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Shreyas Iyer and Naman Dhir starred in the 226-run chase. Now they are likely to get the addition of Sooryavanshi as Ishan Kishan is out of the second match due to a low-grade right adductor strain.

Sooryavanshi, if he gets the nod, would be licking his lips as the second match will also be played at the same venue and on the same pitch which hosted the 455-run feast across the two innings. That might also mean that the used surface can have something in it for the bowlers, with likely wear and tear expected too.

With Sooryavanshi likely to return, India are likely to open with two left-handers in Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma and shift Samson to No.3.

This might also open the window for the Kiwis to bring an off-spinner up front, at which India struggled during the T20 World Cup 2026.

New Zealand would be happy to take the game to the last over despite the start India had and dew being there in Christchurch in the opener. But they would want to make a comeback sooner rather than later, as another defeat would make a comeback way too far in the five-match series.

This would not be ideal for the Kiwis as West Indies recently pushed India to the limits and tied the five-match series 2-2 with the last game getting washed out.

India’s 300th T20I match will see them become just the second team to complete a triple century of matches in the format, after Pakistan, who have played 304 games.

The Men in Blue have 199 outright wins, but their six super over and bowl-out wins have already put them past the 200-mark, and they have 205 wins in the format.

Kushagra added as cover after Ishan ruled out: The selection committee has added Kumar Kushagra to the squad for the second T20I as cover for India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan, who has been ruled out due to a “low-grade right adductor strain”, the BCCI said on Friday.

Kushagra, who is currently in Christchurch with the India A squad, will join the India squad for the second T20I, BCCI’s Honorary Secretary Devajit Saikia informed in a release.

The BCCI Medical Team will continue to monitor Ishan’s progress.

Ishan sustained the injury during the first T20I of the series, which India won by four wickets in Christchurch.

“Ishan Kishan is ruled out of the second T20I against New Zealand due to a low-grade right adductor strain, which he sustained during the first T20I of the series. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring his progress,” the BCCI said in a statement.

In the series opener, Ishan was seen batting at No. 5 with Tilak Varma coming at No. 3. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, while addressing batting order changes, said that the wicketkeeper-batter was dealing with a groin injury.

Meanwhile, former India left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan on Friday came out in support of head coach Gautam Gambhir, saying the criticism over Ishan batting lower down the order in the first T20I against New Zealand at the Hagley Oval was unfair as the wicketkeeper-batter had been nursing a niggle, which later turned out to be a groin strain.

Pathan took to social media to urge fans and critics to hold off on passing judgment without knowing the full facts. “So, Ishan Kishan had a niggle during the first T20, which is why he batted lower down the order.

“But everyone was quick to go after @GautamGambhir for changing the batting order. Criticising him has become everyone’s favourite timepass these days. Please, please wait a bit before passing judgment. Don’t jump to conclusions without knowing the full story.”

Agencies