Pune: New Zealand have revealed key batter Kane Williamson will miss the second Test against India due to injury.
Williamson picked up a groin strain during the Black Caps ICC World Test Championship series against Sri Lanka last month and was sidelined for their drought-breaking victory over India in Bengaluru earlier this week.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead said Williamson has made some progress in his rehabilitation, but would not be ready to feature in the second Test against India that commences here on Thursday and the third Test in Mumbai from November 1 was a more likely return date, an ICC report said.
“We're monitoring Kane and he's tracking in the right direction, but isn't yet 100 percent fit,” Stead said.
“We're hopeful to see further improvement over the coming days and have him available for the third Test," he said.
“We'll give him as much time as possible to get himself ready, but certainly continue to take a cautious approach," Stead added.
New Zealand's victory over India in the first Test was their first in the Asian country since 1988 and moved them up to fourth place on the current World Test Championship standings.
India remain in top spot on the standings despite the loss, with their lead on second-placed Australia and third-placed Sri Lanka reduced as a result.
New Zealand squad: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
