Shreyas Iyer will continue to fill in for Tilak Varma for the remainder of the T20I series against New Zealand, as confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) through their official social media channels. While Tilak has resumed training and is making progress at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, he still requires additional time to regain full match fitness and will be absent for the fourth and fifth T20I matches against the Black Caps.
Previously, Tilak underwent surgery for an abdominal issue in Rajkot, leading to Iyer’s inclusion in the T20I squad for the first three matches as a temporary replacement. The BCCI’s media advisory noted, “India batter Tilak Varma has resumed physical training and is making steady progress with his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. However, he will require additional time to regain full match fitness and will not be available for the final two T20Is of the ongoing IDFC First Bank five-match T20I series.”
Tilak is anticipated to rejoin the Indian squad on February 3 in Mumbai, just ahead of their warm-up match for the T20 World Cup 2026, as stated by the BCCI.
The Men’s Selection Committee has confirmed that Shreyas Iyer will carry on in his role for the remaining matches. Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, India has already secured the five-match T20I series with a commanding 3-0 lead over New Zealand. The fourth T20I is set to take place on January 28 at the ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
Looking ahead, the Men in Blue will participate in the T20 World Cup 2026, commencing on February 7, with their first match against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. They are grouped in Group A alongside Namibia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and the USA.
India’s updated T20I squad includes: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (VC), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (WK), and Ravi Bishnoi.
(With ANI Inputs)