IND vs NZ: Why did Shreyas Iyer miss first T20I in Nagpur?

Shreyas Iyer was added to the Indian squad for the first three IND vs NZ T20Is as a replacement of injured Tilak Varma.

The first T20I of the five-match India vs New Zealand series at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on January 21, 2026, kicked off India’s final major preparation before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, starting February 7.

For Team India, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, this bilateral series carried enormous weight as a dress rehearsal in subcontinental conditions. With the World Cup looming, it offered a critical window to test combinations, evaluate form, restore confidence after recent setbacks, and lock in strategies, particularly in batting depth and middle-order stability.

IND vs NZ: Why did Shreyas Iyer miss first T20I in Nagpur?

Shreyas Iyer, a seasoned middle-order batter who last played a T20I in December 2023, was absent from the playing XI for first IND vs NZ game despite being added to the squad. Iyer was named as a temporary replacement for Tilak Varma in the first three T20Is after the latter suffered an abdominal injury requiring surgery during the Vijay Hazare Trophy earlier in January.

Tilak, India’s established No. 3 in T20Is and a standout performer, was ruled out of the initial matches and is recovering at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, with hopes of returning for the final two games.

In the pre-match press conference, Suryakumar Yadav clarified the decision, confirming Ishan Kishan would bat at No. 3 in the opener. Kishan, returning after a 785-day absence from international cricket (last T20I in November 2023), earned priority because he is already part of India’s T20 World Cup squad.

Suryakumar emphasized that Kishan, selected ahead of others for team balance (replacing Shubman Gill), deserved the opportunity after consistent domestic performances, including topping the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy run charts and leading Jharkhand to the title with explosive striking.

“Ishan will bat at number 3 because he is part of our T20 World Cup team and he was picked in the squad first so it’s our responsibility to give him a chance. He hasn’t played for India for past one and half year and in the mean time consistently performed in domestic cricket.

“Since he (Ishan) has been picked for World T20, he deserves to play ahead (of Shreyas). Had it been a question of batting slots Nos 4 or 5, it would have been a different question altogether. Unfortunately, Tilak isn’t there so Ishan is our best bet,” said Suryakumar Yadav

This preference for Kishan, a left-handed wicketkeeper-batter, over Iyer, despite Iyer’s strong ODI form and vice-captaincy experience highlighted the management’s focus on World Cup preparations. Iyer, included only as cover for Tilak’s absence, was not deemed essential at No. 3, where a left-hander like Kishan provided better matchup flexibility and continuity with the planned squad.

Kishan will also be fighting for the wicket-keeper position with Sanju Samson. Should he impress with the bat in this series, he could potentially open alongside Sanju Samson, once Tilak Verma returns from injury.

Playing XI for India

Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

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