Kane Williamson will miss the third and final Test of the series in India

 Kane Williamson will miss the third and final Test of the series in India as New Zealand Cricket (NZC) prioritizes his recovery for the upcoming three-Test series against England at home, starting November 28. In an NZC release, the decision was described as a “cautious approach” to allow him to continue his groin injury rehabilitation in New Zealand.

Head coach Gary Stead explained, “Kane’s recovery is progressing well, but he’s not quite ready to travel. While things look positive, we believe it’s best for him to stay in New Zealand and focus on the final stage of his rehab so he’s fully prepared for the England series.”

The England series begins in a month, and NZC hopes this cautious approach will ensure Williamson's fitness for the first Test in Christchurch. He initially sustained the groin injury on the recent tour of Sri Lanka, right before the India series.

Despite Williamson's absence, New Zealand has already made history, winning the first two Tests in Bengaluru and Pune and securing their first Test series win in India. This achievement, under Tom Latham’s leadership after Tim Southee stepped down, also ended India’s 18-series home winning streak dating back to 2012.

New Zealand won the first Test by eight wickets after dismissing India for 46 in their first innings and clinched the second Test by 113 runs, thanks to Mitchell Santner's 13-wicket haul on a spin-friendly pitch in Pune. The third Test is set to begin on November 1 in Mumbai.

This series defeat has slightly reduced India's lead in the World Test Championship standings, where they now hold 62.82% of possible points, with Australia close behind at 62.50%. New Zealand’s victories have propelled them to fourth place with a 50% point share, significantly boosting their chances for the WTC final next year.