Kane Williamson Ruled Out of India vs New Zealand 2nd Test in Pune

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New Zealand will continue to be without the services of Kane Williamson for the 2nd Test against India as the star batter remains at home to rehabilitate from a groin strain.

Williamson had missed the series opener in Bengaluru last week due to the injury he picked up during New Zealand's tour to Sri Lanka in September. Now, the Kiwi batter will remain in New Zealand to work on gaining full fitness.

The Blackcaps head coach Gary Stead said that while Williamson was making progress, he wasn't yet ready to return to Test cricket and hopes to have him available for the third Test.

"We're monitoring Kane and he's tracking in the right direction, but isn't yet 100% fit," Stead was quoted as saying by New Zealand Cricket days ahead of the 2nd Test against India at the MCA Stadium in Pune.

"We're hopeful to see further improvement over the coming days and have him available for the third Test. We'll give him as much time as possible to get himself ready, but certainly continue to take a cautious approach."

Will Young played in Williamson's place during New Zealand's historic win in Bengaluru, and is expected to continue filling in for the senior batter in Pune. Young made 33 runs in the first innings, and then a crucial unbeaten 48 in the second to seal New Zealand's 8-wicket win.

New Zealand ended a 36-year wait to win a Test on Indian soil thanks to their pace duo of Matt Henry and William O'Rourke, who helped skittle the hosts for just 46 in their first innings before Rachin Ravindra starred with the bat to put them in the ascendancy.

Ravindra scored a century, while Devon Conway added 91 as New Zealand took a massive 356-run lead, but India returned with counter-attack led by Rohit Sharma and carried on by Virat Kohli, Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant to wipe out the deficit.

However, once the Indian batting collapsed after the visitors had taken the new ball, the writing was on the wall as Ravindra and Young eased nerves for the visitors, who claimed a massive win to lead the series 1-0.

Now, the tourists are expected to be welcomed to slow-low wicket at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune as the Indian team looks to bounce back and level the series, when the 2nd Test stars on Thursday (October 24).