The wicket‑keeper‑batter suffered a right adductor strain in the opening over of the first T20I, cutting his season short and leaving the side without a key player for the next two games.
The BCCI’s medical team confirmed that Kishan, who had shown promising recovery, had not yet regained full match fitness. He will miss the October 27 game in Wellington, and the selectors have retained uncapped Kumar Kushagra as cover.
A teenage sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, stepped up in Kishan’s absence during the second match, proving that depth can still shine when the top order falters.
With India already at a 2‑0 advantage, the series remains within reach, but the injury forces a tactical rethink as the team prepares for the decisive finale.
The next step: India must tighten its defence and look to the younger players to fill the void left by Kishan, while New Zealand will seize any opportunity to snatch a win in the last match.