IND vs NZ: New Zealand star Kane Williamson to miss second Test against India

India vs New Zealand, Pune Test: New Zealand have revealed key batter Kane Williamson will miss the second Test against India due to injury.

In Short

• Kane Williamson ruled out of second Test against India due to groin strain
• The Blackcaps managed to break 36-year drought in India with an 8-wicket win
• New Zealand coach hopeful for Williamson's return in third Test in Mumbai

New Zealand's star batter Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the second Test against India in Pune as he continues to recover from a groin strain. The injury, sustained during New Zealand's ICC World Test Championship series against Sri Lanka last month, sidelined Williamson for the Black Caps' historic victory over India in Bengaluru earlier this week.

New Zealand coach Gary Stead provided an update on Williamson’s condition, confirming that while the 33-year-old has made progress in his rehabilitation, he won’t be ready for the second Test, starting Thursday in Pune. Stead expressed optimism that Williamson could return for the third Test in Mumbai, scheduled for November 1.

“We're monitoring Kane, and he's tracking in the right direction, but isn't yet 100% fit,” Stead said. “We’re hopeful to see further improvement over the coming days and have him available for the third Test. We’ll give him as much time as possible to get himself ready, but we’re taking a cautious approach.”

Williamson’s absence is a blow for the Black Caps, though they managed to break a 36-year drought in India with an emphatic 8-wicket win in the first Test. The victory pushed New Zealand to fourth place in the World Test Championship standings, making the upcoming matches crucial for their campaign. India remain in the top spot on the standings despite the loss, with their lead over second-placed Australia and third-placed Sri Lanka reduced as a result.

The third and final Test of the series will take place in Mumbai. New Zealand hopes to have its key batter back in the lineup as it looks to seal a series victory on Indian soil.

New Zealand squad: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young