Wellington: Kane Williamson, the New Zealand batsman, will be absent from the second Test against India, scheduled to commence on Thursday in Pune. This absence is due to his ongoing rehabilitation from a groin strain.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has issued a statement through Instagram, announcing, "Squad News | Kane Williamson will not be participating in the BLACKCAPS second Test match against India, as he continues his recovery from a groin strain."
The groin strain was incurred during the recently concluded two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, resulting in Williamson's exclusion from the first Test match against India in Bengaluru, which the Kiwis emerged victorious by eight wickets, marking their first win in India since 1976.
Gary Stead, the head coach of the New Zealand team, has stated that Williamson is progressing well in his recovery but is yet to be deemed fit for Test cricket.
"We are closely monitoring Kane, and while he is showing signs of improvement, he has not yet reached a full fitness level," Stead has mentioned.
"We remain optimistic about his recovery and anticipate his availability for the third Test," Stead added.
In his 37 Test matches, Williamson has scored 871 runs with an average of 37.86, including two centuries and five fifties in 24 innings, with his highest score being 131.
The team's performance was notably highlighted by the contributions of Rachin Ravindra, Matt Henry, and William O'Rourke in their eight-wicket victory over India at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswammy Stadium, their first win on Indian soil since 1988.
During the match, standout performances from Henry (5/15) and O'Rourke (4/22) led India to a score of just 46 runs after they chose to bat first. Subsequent contributions from Rachin (134), Devon Conway (91), and Tim Southee (65) propelled the Kiwis to 402/10, securing a 356-run lead. The team's batting prowess was further demonstrated by skipper Rohit Sharma (52), Virat Kohli (70), Sarfaraz Khan (150), and Rishabh Pant (99), who collectively took India to 462/10, maintaining a 106-run lead. However, a collapse following the introduction of the new ball prevented India from extending their lead significantly. The Kiwis managed to chase down the total comprehensively, winning the match with eight wickets in hand. Rachin was awarded the 'Player of the Match' for his outstanding performance.
