Why Ishan Kishan is Not Playing Today in IND vs NZ 4th T20I?

Team India is facing New Zealand in the fourth match of the five-match T20I series at Visakhapatnam. Having won the first three games, the Men in Blue have already sealed the series with an unassailable lead of 3-0.

Coming to the fourth T20I, many predicted that the Indian team would make a lot of changes in the playing XI and give rest to their key players, citing the injury concerns ahead of the highly-awaited T20 World Cup 2026. However, the team made only one change as star batter Ishan Kishan wasn't included in the playing 11 for this game.

Why Ishan Kishan is Not Playing Today?

India's star wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan is not featuring in the IND vs NZ 4th T20I on Wednesday. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav spoke about Kishan's exclusion from the playing XI and said that he picked up a niggle in the last game.

As Suryakumar said, Arshdeep Singh has been included in the playing XI as Ishan Kishan replacement. The star pacer missed out the third T20I after Jasprit Bumrah was brought back to the playing XI. However, Ishan Kishan injury has paved the way for Arshdeep to be back in the playing 11.

The change is not the like-for-like replacement as it increases India's tail. The Men in Blue are one batter short in this game but it will be a good test for this batting line-up, which has some of the most dangerous batsmen in the world.

Ishan Kishan's Remarkable Comeback to India Colours

Kishan's tremendous performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy, where he led Jharkhand to the title helped him to earn a call back to the Indian team after two years. However, it was unclear whether Kishan would be included in the playing XI or not.

But India's star top-order batter Tilak Varma's injury during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, paved the way for Kishan to get a spot in the playing XI. The left-hander, who is among the best wicketkeepers in India, has been in devastating form this series.

His comeback innings lasted for just eight runs. But in the second match of the series, Ishan batted with pure aggression and smashed 76 runs off just 32 balls, including 11 fours and four sixes. He continued his aggressive intent and scored a quickfire 28 off just 13 balls, including three fours and two sixes in the third match. He is also in India's squad for T20 World Cup 2026 as the back-up keeper to Sanju Samson.