Big injury scare for India, Ishan Kishan struck on back during nets session ahead of 1st T20I vs Afghanistan

An injury scare hit the Indian camp just days ahead of the T20I series opener against Afghanistan, as wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan suffered a back issue during India's net session. fresh off captaining East Zone to a Duleep Trophy triumph, Kishan was nearing the end of a 45-minute stint in the nets when he attempted to duck under a short ball from net bowler Navdeep Saini. The awkward movement appeared to tweak his back, prompting team physiotherapists to rush onto the field to evaluate him in visible discomfort, which brought an immediate end to his batting practice.

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Ishan Kishan hit on back during India's training session

Despite the initial concern, early indications suggest the setback may not be severe. Kishan managed to walk off under his own power, later resting on an ice box alongside teammates along the boundary. He appeared in good spirits following the incident and was even spotted sharing a lighthearted conversation with Saini before heading into the dressing room, easing fears of a major lay-off ahead of the opening fixture.

Prior to the awkward moment, Kishan showcased sublime form during his time at the crease, striking the ball cleanly while sharing net space with captain Shreyas Iyer. Meanwhile, young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi batted in tandem with Sanju Samson, hinting at a potential head-to-head selection debate for the opening role ahead of the series opener.

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Losing Kishan would be a heavy blow for India, given his sensational form since working his way back into the national setup. Following a standout run in the domestic T20 circuit, the explosive left-hander cemented his spot right before the World Cup and has been a run machine ever since. His tally of 812 runs across 23 T20Is makes him India's second-highest run-scorer in 2026. With the team set to kick off the Afghanistan series on Sunday, September 13, and a trip to Japan for the Asian Games on the horizon—team management will be desperately hoping his back issue proves to be nothing more than a minor tweak.

India’s updated squad for T20Is against Afghanistan:

Indian cricket team: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur.