Navdeep Saini eases Ishan Kishan injury fears

India’s build-up to the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan briefly took a tense turn when Ishan Kishan suffered a back injury scare during a training session at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The wicketkeeper-batter felt discomfort after ducking under a short delivery from net bowler Navdeep Saini, prompting immediate attention from the team’s medical staff.

But the early signs suggest India have dodged a major setback. Saini later played down the concern, saying Kishan looked fine when he checked on him after the session. With the series opener set for Sunday in New Delhi, the left-hander is still expected to be available.

Short scare, quick reassurance

Kishan’s session ended earlier than planned after he appeared to struggle with lower-back discomfort. He had been batting fluently for around 45 minutes and looked settled alongside India captain Shreyas Iyer before sitting on an ice box and walking off without assistance. Team physiotherapist Kamlesh Jain attended to him on the field, underlining that the management treated the moment carefully.

Navdeep Saini, who was brought in as a net bowler for the series, said the incident was more of a routine training exchange than a serious problem. “We know each other very well,” Saini said, adding that he targeted Kishan with the short ball because he was aware of the batter’s tendencies.

That brief exchange has now turned into a positive update for India fans. Saini said Kishan told him he was doing fine, and there was “nothing to worry about.”

Kishan arrives in strong touch

The timing of the scare matters because Kishan is entering this series in excellent form. He has been one of India’s most productive batters in recent months, and his confidence has been boosted further by a standout Duleep Trophy campaign.

Kishan led East Zone to the title and finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer, compiling 409 runs in three matches at a remarkable average of 102.25. His final performance was especially eye-catching: a huge 270 in the first innings of the final against South Zone, followed by 80 in the second innings. He was named Player of the Match as East Zone lifted the Duleep Trophy for the first time in 13 years.

Numbers that strengthen India’s case

His recent white-ball record adds another layer to the story. Kishan has scored 812 runs in 23 T20Is since his recall in January, making him one of India’s most reliable options in the format right now. He was also among India’s top contributors at the 2026 T20 World Cup and added 145 runs during the recent tour of Zimbabwe.

An India support staff member, speaking informally after the session, suggested the main priority was simply monitoring Kishan over the next 24 hours rather than treating the episode as a significant setback. That aligns with the overall mood around the squad: cautious, but not alarmed.

Selection puzzle still remains

If Kishan is cleared to play, India will still face a difficult top-order decision. The squad includes Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, giving the team management plenty of options but not an easy answer.

Sooryavanshi impressed on the Zimbabwe tour with 151 runs at a strike rate of 196.10, while Samson returns to the T20I setup after missing the previous series and will be eager to reclaim a place in the XI. Abhishek, too, remains in contention after regaining rhythm in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League, where he smashed 242 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 268.89.

That leaves India with a healthy problem rather than a crisis. Kishan’s fitness remains the first checkpoint, but if he passes it, the bigger question shifts to combinations, roles and balance at the top of the order.

A series that could shape early momentum

For India, the Afghanistan series is more than a routine bilateral assignment. It offers a chance to settle the batting order, test combinations and carry momentum into a busy stretch of T20 cricket.

For Kishan, the immediate focus is simple: recover fully, stay in rhythm and convert recent form into another statement series. If the training scare fades as expected, India may have avoided the only major concern from an otherwise encouraging session.

As Saini’s message suggested, the mood is calmer than it first appeared. The injury scare made headlines, but the early verdict is reassuring: Kishan looks set to remain in the frame for India’s opener against Afghanistan.