Kane Williamson to Miss Second Test Against India Due to Injury

Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s star batter, will miss the second Test against India as he continues to recover from a groin strain. The injury, sustained during the recent series against Sri Lanka, has kept Williamson out of action, with BLACKCAPS head coach Gary Stead confirming that while his progress has been promising, he is not yet fit for the Test arena. "We are monitoring Kane, and he's moving in the right direction, but he's not 100% fit yet," Stead said. The team is hopeful that Williamson will return in time for the third Test, but they are taking a cautious approach to his recovery.

New Zealand's second Test against India begins in Pune this Thursday, October 24. The BLACKCAPS will look to build on the momentum from their remarkable 8-wicket win in the first Test in Bengaluru. This victory was historic, marking their first Test win in India since 1988. New Zealand's bowling, led by Matt Henry and Will O'Rourke, was key to the win, as they skittled India for just 46 in the first innings—India’s lowest-ever home total. Despite India’s fightback in the second innings, spearheaded by Sarfaraz Khan’s 150 and Rishabh Pant’s 99, New Zealand chased down the 107-run target with contributions from Will Young (48*) and Rachin Ravindra (39*)

As New Zealand heads into the second Test without their talismanic captain, the team will aim to capitalize on their strong performance and try to secure a series victory