India have added 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra to the T20I squad for the second match against New Zealand in Christchurch. Ishan Kishan has been ruled out with a low-grade right adductor strain. Kushagra's recent domestic numbers, including 422 runs at a strike rate of 161.68 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, explain the selection.
Injury Update and Squad Change
The BCCI confirmed that Kishan sustained a low-grade right adductor strain during the first innings of the series opener. Hours after that confirmation, the board announced Kushagra as cover for the second T20I.
Kushagra was already in Christchurch with the India A group. That allowed the selectors to make the change without additional travel.
What the BCCI Has Confirmed
The injury is classified as low-grade, and the BCCI's medical team is monitoring Kishan's recovery. No return date or recovery timeline has been communicated so far.
Adductor muscles run along the inner thigh. They matter for batting movement, wicketkeeping footwork and running between the wickets, which makes the injury relevant for a keeper-batter.
Squad Change at a Glance| Detail | Information |
|---|
| Player ruled out | Ishan Kishan |
| Injury | Low-grade right adductor strain |
| Replacement | Kumar Kushagra (age 22) |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-batter, cover for second T20I |
| Location | Christchurch |
Kushagra's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Numbers
Kushagra is from Jharkhand and plays under Kishan's captaincy. He was central to Jharkhand's 2025/26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title.
The right-hand batter mostly bats at number 3. He scored 422 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 161.68, with four fifties.
Kumar Kushagra, SMAT 2025/26 Summary| Metric | Value |
|---|
| Innings | 10 |
| Runs | 422 |
| Runs per innings | 42.2 |
| Strike rate | 161.68 |
| Fifties | 4 |
| Usual batting position | Number 3 |
A strike rate above 160 while averaging over 42 runs per innings points to both volume and tempo. That combination is useful for a top-order T20 batter.
Final Performance Against Haryana
Kushagra scored 81 off 38 balls in the final, including 8 fours and 5 sixes. That is a strike rate of 213.16.
Boundaries produced 62 of his 81 runs, or about 76.5 percent. The remaining 19 runs came from 25 balls, so he kept the scoreboard moving without relying only on boundaries.
SMAT 2025/26 Final: Kushagra's Innings| Metric | Value |
|---|
| Runs | 81 |
| Balls faced | 38 |
| Fours | 8 |
| Sixes | 5 |
| Strike rate | 213.16 |
| Runs from boundaries | 62 (about 76.5%) |
Partnership With Kishan in the Final
Kushagra and Kishan added 177 runs for the second wicket in the final. Jharkhand went on to win by 69 runs.
A stand of that size in a title match shows how well the pair have worked together at the top of the order. It also means the two have shared the crease in a high-pressure game, which adds context to Kushagra's call-up as Kishan's cover.
SMAT 2025/26 Final: Match Context| Metric | Value |
|---|
| Opponent | Haryana |
| Result | Jharkhand won by 69 runs |
| Second-wicket partnership | 177 runs |
| Kushagra's share of the stand | 81 runs (off 38 balls) |
Form Beyond the T20 Format
Kushagra has also scored centuries in the Duleep Trophy and in India A matches against Australia A. Those innings came against good bowling attacks, and they show he can score heavily outside the T20 format.
His strong India A performances also led to a maiden national call-up for the last two ODIs of the tour. He is part of the India A tour as well.
What This Means for India's Selection
Kushagra is in the squad as cover, so a debut is not guaranteed. His selection mainly shows that the team management wants a wicketkeeper-batter with a proven T20 record available.
Barring any change in Kishan's injury status, Kushagra will return to India A after the second T20I. The BCCI medical team's day-by-day assessments will determine Kishan's availability for the remaining fixtures.
For now, the numbers behind Kushagra's selection are clear: a 161.68 strike rate across 10 innings, four fifties and an 81 off 38 in a title-deciding match.