IND vs NZ: Kane Williamson to miss final Test against India

Kane Williamson will not travel to India for the last Test of the series as he focuses on recovering from his groin injury. The New Zealand Cricket (NZC) board announced that this decision is part of a "cautious approach" to ensure he is fit for the upcoming three-Test series against England, which begins on November 28.

"Kane continues to show good signs, but isn't quite ready to jump on a plane and join us," said head coach Gary Stead. "While things are looking promising, we think the best course of action is for him to stay in New Zealand and focus on the final part of his rehabilitation so he'll be good to go for England."

Williamson injured his groin during New Zealand's tour of Sri Lanka last month, just before the India series. Despite his absence, New Zealand has made history by winning the first two Tests against India, securing a 2-0 lead in the series. This win marks India's first Test series loss at home since 2012, ending their impressive streak of 18 consecutive series victories on home soil.

New Zealand's victories included an eight-wicket win in the first Test, where they bowled India out for just 46 runs in the first innings. In the second Test, they defeated India by 113 runs, with Mitchell Santner taking 13 wickets throughout the match.

The third Test is scheduled to start on November 1 in Mumbai. This series loss has affected India's position at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) points table, where they now hold 62.82% of the points, closely followed by Australia at 62.50%. New Zealand has improved its standing to fourth place with 50% of the points, boosting their chances of qualifying for the WTC final next year.