New Zealand captain Kane Williamson was ruled out of the second Test against India on Friday after being hit with a bug, in a huge blow for the tourists.
The talismanic skipper failed to train on Thursday and team management gave him as long as possible to recover, but decided early Friday he could not play.
“Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the Black Caps 2nd Test in Kolkata with illness. Ross Taylor will captain side,” they tweeted early Friday, just a few hours before play was due to begin on the opening day.
Williamson not only provides leadership for the New Zealanders but is their most consistent batsman, scoring 75 in a 124-run second-wicket partnership with Tom Latham in the first Test in Kanpur.
New Zealand need a win at Eden Gardens to square the three-match series at 1-1 after losing the Kanpur Test by 197 runs.
