October 22, 2024: New Zealand’s star batter Kane Williamson will miss the second Test against India in Pune as he continues to recover from a groin strain.
This injury, which he sustained during the recent Test series against Sri Lanka, also caused him to miss the first Test in Bengaluru, where New Zealand secured an eight-wicket victory—their first win on Indian soil since 1988.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed the news via Instagram, with head coach Gary Stead stating that while Williamson is making progress, he’s not yet fully fit for Test cricket. Stead added that they hope to see further improvement over the coming days and aim to have Williamson available for the third Test.
In Williamson’s absence, contributions from players like Rachin Ravindra, who scored a brilliant 134, and bowlers Matt Henry (5/15) and William O’Rourke (4/22) played key roles in New Zealand’s historic victory. Despite fine performances from India’s Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan, and Rishabh Pant, the Kiwis chased down the target with ease.
