India will go into the second T20I against New Zealand at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday, October 24, with a 1-0 lead in the five-match series but one batter short. The BCCI confirmed that Ishan Kishan has been ruled out of the game with a low-grade right adductor strain picked up in Thursday's series opener. The match starts at 12:30 pm IST, with the toss at 12 noon.
Shreyas Iyer's side will be riding high after a thrilling chase in the first game, but New Zealand, who posted their highest home T20I total in that match, will be desperate to hit back on the same ground.
Ishan Kishan injury: what the BCCI said
"Ishan Kishan is ruled out of the second T20I against New Zealand due to a low-grade right adductor strain," the BCCI said, adding that its medical team is monitoring his progress. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had earlier described it as a slight groin niggle and indicated the 28-year-old was unlikely to play. Kishan batted at No. 5 in the opener and was dismissed for one by Mitchell Santner.
The 28-year-old has 1,955 runs in 67 T20Is at a strike rate of 148.55 and is also part of India's ODI squad for this tour, so the team management will be careful not to rush him back.
First T20I recap: India's big chase
New Zealand piled up 225 for 4 on Thursday, powered by Glenn Phillips' unbeaten 82 off 40 balls and a quickfire 45 off 24 from Finn Allen. India chased the 226-run target with two balls and four wickets to spare. Sanju Samson set it up with 67 off 33 balls, captain Shreyas Iyer added 42 off 28, and Naman Dhir finished the job with a blistering unbeaten 42 off just 15 balls.
| Match | India vs New Zealand, 2nd T20I |
| Date | Saturday, October 24, 2026 |
| Venue | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| Toss / start (IST) | 12:00 pm / 12:30 pm |
| Series | India lead 1-0 (five matches) |
| 1st T20I result | India won by 4 wickets (NZ 225/4) |
| Ruled out | Ishan Kishan (adductor strain) |
| Captains | Shreyas Iyer (IND), Mitchell Santner (NZ) |
India probable XI
With Kishan out, India have options in the squad, including teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and all-rounder Shivam Dube. Team management has not named a replacement, so the final call will come at the toss.
India (probable): Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi/Shivam Dube, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh.
New Zealand (probable): Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry/Kyle Jamieson, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, Nathan Smith.
Bowling worry for India
Conceding 225 will have bothered the Indian think tank. Spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy are waiting on the bench, and a change in the bowling mix cannot be ruled out if the surface looks drier.
Key players to watch
Sanju Samson looked in superb touch in the opener, taking on New Zealand's quicks from the first over, and his start at the top will again be crucial. Naman Dhir has emerged as a finisher, and his 15-ball cameo showed he can handle pressure in big chases. For New Zealand, Glenn Phillips is the obvious threat after his 82 not out, while captain Mitchell Santner's left-arm spin will be key to slowing down India in the middle overs. India's pace group, led by Arshdeep Singh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, will need to find early wickets to stop the Kiwi top order from building another huge total.
Pitch and weather report
Hagley Oval usually offers some seam and swing early on, with true bounce that rewards batters once they are set. The first game showed how quickly scores can climb here. Dew in the evening could make chasing easier, so the toss winner may again prefer to bowl first. The forecast is clear and dry, and rain is not expected to interrupt play.
Where to watch in India
The match will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network, with live streaming on the Sony LIV app and website.
What's next in the series
- 3rd T20I – October 27, Wellington
- 4th T20I – October 30, Eden Park, Auckland
- 5th T20I – November 1, Seddon Park, Hamilton
A win on Saturday would give India a 2-0 lead and real control of the series before it moves to the North Island, followed by a five-match ODI series from November 4 and two Tests.
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