Why Is Ishan Kishan Not Playing in IND vs NZ 3rd T20I 2026 Match?
Ishan Kishan will not play in the India vs New Zealand 3rd T20I on October 27, 2026, at Hnry Stadium, Wellington, due to a low-grade right adductor strain. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi steps in for the crucial match as India looks to seal the T20I series against New Zealand, leading 2-0.
The Indian cricket team will be without the services of dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan for the third T20I against New Zealand at the Hnry Stadium today. Kishan has been sidelined due to a low-grade right adductor strain, as confirmed by team sources, giving young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi another chance in the middle order. India vs New Zealand Live Streaming Online and Free Telecast, 3rd T20I 2026.
India Aims for Series Decider
India, currently leading the five-match T20I series 2-0, will be looking to seal a dominant series victory today. Both previous matches have been nail-biting encounters, with India holding their nerve to win in the final overs. The Men in Blue will aim to maintain their momentum and wrap up the series with two games to spare.
India's Playing XI for 3rd T20I
Captain Shreyas Iyer announced that India would be fielding an unchanged side for this crucial encounter, having won the toss and opting to bowl first.
India (Playing XI):
- Sanju Samson (wk)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
- Shreyas Iyer (c)
- Tilak Varma
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Naman Dhir
- Axar Patel
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Arshdeep Singh
- Prince Yadav
New Zealand, on the other hand, made three changes to their squad, bringing in Matthew Fisher, Kyle Jamieson, and Adam Milne in place of Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, and Nathan Smith.
New Zealand (Playing XI):
- Tim Seifert (wk)
- Finn Allen
- Daryl Mitchell
- Glenn Phillips
- Bevon Jacobs
- Michael Bracewell
- Mitchell Santner (c)
- Kyle Jamieson
- Adam Milne
- Jacob Duffy
- Matthew Fisher
Match Details and Broadcast Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | 3rd T20I, India tour of New Zealand 2026 |
| Teams | New Zealand vs India |
| Venue | Hnry Stadium, Wellington |
| Date | Tuesday, October 27, 2026 |
| Start Time | 8:00 PM Local (NZ) / 7:00 AM GMT / 12:30 PM IST |
| Toss | India opted to bowl |
| Series Status | India leads 2-0 |
Team Captains' Remarks and Pitch Conditions
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner noted that the pitch at Hnry Stadium looked like another good wicket with some pace and bounce, adding that the absence of wind was a welcome change. India's captain Shreyas Iyer emphasized the need for his team to keep improving and adapt quickly to the different dimensions and conditions in Wellington.
The pitch report from Scott Styris and Tim Southee highlighted the short square boundaries (56m and 62m) and longer straight boundaries (84m), suggesting bowlers should aim for fuller lengths down the ground to encourage catches in the deeper areas.
With Ishan Kishan out due to injury, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be under the spotlight to deliver at number three, while India's bowling attack, despite some concerns in previous games, will be looking to adapt to the new venue. New Zealand, desperate to stay alive in the series, will need a sharper performance with both bat and ball if they're to get the better of this Indian side.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 27, 2026 12:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
