Adductor strain on Ishan Kishan after the opener forced him out of the second T20I, leaving a gap that could be filled by 15‑year‑old Kumar Sooryavanshi.
Kotak had the teenager pitching in nets with Sharma, Reddy and Dube, watching him hone his fielding while the team kept the cover spot open—an early sign they’re ready to roll him in if the rhythm shifts.
Gambhir and the coaching cadre have resisted rushing Sooryavanshi into the XI, arguing that the Kiwi conditions—larger grounds, swing, and tight margins—require a settled core. Yet the coach’s patience could pay off when the pressure mounts.
If he makes the side, Sooryavanshi will have to prove he can adapt to the harsher pitches, and India will be looking to sharpen its T20I credentials before the next series in Australia.