Kane Williamson will not travel to India for the third and final Test of the ongoing series, as New Zealand Cricket (NZC) takes a cautious approach to ensure his full recovery from a groin injury. The decision comes as Williamson continues his rehabilitation in his home country, aiming to be fit for New Zealand’s three-Test series against England, which begins on November 28.
In a statement, New Zealand head coach Gary Stead highlighted Williamson’s progress but confirmed that the batsman is not yet ready to rejoin the squad. “Kane continues to show good signs, but isn’t quite ready to jump on a plane and join us,” Stead remarked. “While things are looking promising, we think the best course of action is for him to stay in New Zealand and focus on the final part of his rehabilitation so he’ll be good to go for England.”
Williamson’s injury occurred during New Zealand’s recent tour of Sri Lanka, just prior to the Test series against India. Despite his absence, the Kiwis have made history by winning the first two Tests in Bengaluru and Pune, thus securing their first-ever Test series victory in India. This remarkable feat also ended India’s impressive streak of 18 consecutive series wins at home, dating back to 2012.
In the first Test, New Zealand stunned India with an eight-wicket victory, dismissing the hosts for just 46 runs in their first innings. The second Test in Pune saw a similar display of dominance, with New Zealand spinning India out for 156 in their first innings and ultimately winning by 113 runs. Mitchell Santner was instrumental in this success, taking 13 wickets across the two Tests.
The third Test is set to commence on November 1 in Mumbai, but New Zealand will have to continue their campaign without their captain. The series loss has impacted India’s standing in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table, where they now hold 62.82% of points, closely followed by Australia at 62.50%. New Zealand’s back-to-back victories have propelled them to fourth place with 50% of points, significantly enhancing their chances of qualifying for the WTC final next year.
As Williamson focuses on his recovery, all eyes will be on the New Zealand team as they aim to maintain their momentum in the upcoming Test in Mumbai.
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