Kane Williamson Excluded from Final Test Against India

New Delhi :  New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson will not participate in the third and final Test match against India, starting Friday in Mumbai.

The 34-year-old Williamson, who also missed the first two Tests in Bengaluru and Pune, will not be part of the third Test either. Instead, he will continue his rehabilitation for a back injury to prepare for the upcoming three-match home series against England.

The first Test against England will commence on November 28 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. New Zealand has already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, having defeated India by eight wickets in Bengaluru and by 113 runs in Pune, marking their first historic Test series victory in India.

New Zealand’s head coach Gary Stead stated, “Kane has been showing consistent signs of improvement, but he is not quite ready to board the flight and join us. While things look promising, we believe the best course of action for him is to stay in New Zealand and focus on the final part of his rehabilitation. This way, he can be ready for the series against England. With a month remaining before the England series, taking a cautious approach now will ensure he is prepared for the first Test in Christchurch.”