New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will miss the entire Test series against India, having been ruled out of the third and final Test match at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Choosing a cautious approach, Williamson decided not to travel to India, allowing time to focus on his groin injury rehabilitation ahead of the critical England series. The New Zealand team aims to be fully prepared for the Test series against England starting on November 28 at Hagley Oval, which could impact their chances in the World Test Championship (WTC).
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead mentioned Williamson’s steady progress but emphasized the need for caution to ensure his full fitness by the England series. “Kane continues to show good signs, but isn’t quite ready to jump on a plane and join us,” Stead noted. “While things look promising, we feel the best course of action is for him to stay in New Zealand and complete his rehabilitation.”
Despite Williamson’s absence, the New Zealand squad, led by Tom Latham, secured a historic victory in the series, marking New Zealand’s first Test series win in India in 70 years. This victory also ended India’s 18-series home winning streak, a record that spanned over 12 years.
