Indian skipper Virat Kohli announced one surprise change in the side for New Zealand game. Suryakumar Yadav was not included in the team as he complained of back spasms. The BCCI medical team has advised the explosive batter to stay back at the hotel and take rest. It is not yet clear whether he will be fit to play the next match or not.
Suryakumar’s forced exclusion made way for in-form wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan. The southpaw has been included in the side as an opener alongside in-form KL Rahul which led to Rohit Sharma playing down the order, which he has done for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the format.
Kishan has been in stupendous form of late. The wicketkeeper-batter scored two half-centuries in last two games of MI in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. In the warm-up game against England as well, he remained unbeaten for 70 in the run chase.
He has played as an opener in only one T20I out of the three. As an opener, he had scored his maiden T20I half-century against England when the Eoin Morgan’s team toured India earlier this year.
On the other hand, Suryarkumar did not live upto the expectations in the first game. He scored just 11 runs from eight deliveries and lost his wicket during powerplay overs. The move to open with Kishan can also be a result of left-arm pacer Trent Boult’s record against Rohit.
