Kumar Kushagra replaces Ishan Kishan in India's squad ahead of second T20 against New Zealand

In the second game of the five-match T20 series between India and New Zealand, which will be held at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday, October 24, India's captain Shreyas Iyer decided to win the toss and start the game with a toss.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi will debut in the Indian team in the number three position, replacing Ishan Kishan. The Indian team aims to maintain momentum after winning the first match, where they scored an impressive 226 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the series.

Before the second match, the Indian team faced a problem: wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan was ruled out due to a right-side muscle strain. He has been replaced in the squad by Kumar Kushagra.

India's recent form is impressive: they have won four of their last five encounters against both teams. In the first T20 against New Zealand, Sanju Samson and Naman Diar delivered brilliant performances.

Hagley Oval is expected to retain its status as a high-scoring ground, but some wear and tear may be observed due to the field being used again. In the initial overs, fast bowlers will benefit from swing, but once the players settle into the pitch, it will become easier for them to score runs.

Clear skies are expected in Christchurch during the match, but temperatures may drop to 12–14 degrees Celsius by evening. Since the match starts at 20:00 local time, the role of dew will be very significant. Therefore, the captain who wins the toss will prefer to start with the toss to take advantage of the advantages that may arise for players in more humid conditions in the latter half of the game.

A total of 32 games have been played between the two teams: India has won 20, New Zealand has won 11, and one game ended in a draw.

The Indian squad includes: Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Diar, Akshar Patel, Bhubneshwar Kumar, Arshadip Singh, and Mayank Yadav. The New Zealand squad consists of: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Bevan Jackson, Michael Breshaw, Mitchell Santner (captain), Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, and Lock Ferguson.

The left-arm spinner for the Indian team, Yuzvendra Chahal, revealed details of an early career incident that put his life in danger. During a party in Bangalore in 2013, while playing for Mumbai Indians (MI), a drunken Australian cricketer lifted him from the 15th-floor balcony and hung him upside down.

Chahal shared this story on a podcast by former Indian batsman Akash Chopra. He clarified that two cricketers whose names had previously been linked to the incident were not involved. Chahal noted that a very drunk Australian player was present at the party organized by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Bangalore.

According to Chahal, this athlete was physically very strong and suddenly lifted him, hanging him from the balcony. Chahal recounted: 'He just held me by the neck.' People in the room panicked, and everyone immediately intervened to get him back up.

He added that despite the player laughing, it felt like a second chance at life for him. Chahal speculated that the incident took place on the 15th or 16th floor of the hotel. He admitted that in his youth, he did not understand how to officially file a complaint about such an event, and later decided to focus on his career.

Chahal first mentioned this case in 2022. Although Andrew Symonds' name was mentioned in some previous reports, Chahal now categorically denies the involvement of both Symonds and James Franklin. However, he declined to name the Australian cricketer.

Chahal began his IPL career in 2013 with Mumbai Indians and later became a leading bowler for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, playing for the team for eight seasons. He is one of the most successful bowlers in IPL history, with 233 wickets in 188 matches. In the 2026 IPL season, he played 14 matches for Punjab Kings (PBKS), taking 12 wickets.