(Image Source: The Hindu)
[Saba Sports News] India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan was stung by a honeybee during practice before India’s upcoming match against New Zealand at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Sunday, October 22. During a net session, the 25-year-old faced Mohammad Siraj and abruptly left after the bee sting incident. Physiotherapists attended to him, and he subsequently left the training facility.
It remains uncertain whether Kishan will be available for the New Zealand game, posing a concern for Team India, which is already missing the services of Hardik Pandya. Pandya sustained an ankle injury in the previous match against Bangladesh in Pune and did not travel with the team to Dharamsala. Consequently, India will be compelled to alter their winning combination, which has secured four consecutive victories in the tournament.
Mohammad Shami is the top contender to replace Pandya in the playing XI, but India may also need to bolster their batting lineup. This could necessitate the inclusion of either Ishan Kishan or Suryakumar Yadav in the XI.
Ishan Kishan has already featured in a couple of matches in the tournament, including a remarkable innings of 47 against Afghanistan in Delhi. If Kishan is unable to play due to the bee sting incident, Suryakumar Yadav is likely to be considered. Yadav, 33, has played 30 ODIs but has yet to establish a permanent place in the XI, scoring 667 runs in 28 innings with an average of 27.79 and a strike rate of 105.70, including four half-centuries.