Tilak Varma set to join India for T20 World Cup after surgery layoff

MUMBAI: India’s batter Tilak Varma will head into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup without having played a single T20 match this year. The 23-year-old is making a comeback from testicular surgery and has been granted extra time to regain full match fitness.

Tilak is expected to join the Indian squad in Mumbai on February 3, missing the ongoing T20Is against New Zealand. He was initially ruled out for just the first three matches. 

Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer, who is not part of India’s World Cup squad, will continue with the team until the bilateral series concludes.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) provided an update on Tilak Varma’s recovery on Monday, outlining his current fitness status and ongoing rehabilitation.

“Tilak has resumed physical training and is making steady progress with his rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. However, he will require additional time to regain full match fitness.”

Tilak had recently cemented his place in India’s fluid batting line-up, playing a starring role as India lifted the Asia Cup. He was also the highest run-getter in the T20Is against South Africa in December. 

His absence created an opening for Ishan Kishan, another World Cup squad member, who impressed with aggressive batting. 

India captain Suryakumar Yadav praised Kishan’s 76 off 32 balls, which came when the team was struggling at 6 for 2 against New Zealand.

Other top-order options for India include Abhishek Sharma, who is in scintillating form and recorded India’s second-fastest T20I fifty on Sunday.

Conversely, Sanju Samson has struggled recently, scoring just 16 runs across his last three innings. 

India will play a T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai on February 4, where Tilak is expected to return to action.

There has been no update on Washington Sundar, who suffered a rib injury during the first ODI against New Zealand on January 11. Sundar is one of four frontline spin-bowling options selected for the World Cup. 

Teams can make squad changes until January 30; after that, any additions require approval from the ICC event technical committee.

India A will provide match practice for teams participating in the T20 World Cup, facing the USA in Navi Mumbai on February 2 and Namibia in Bengaluru on February 6. 

Riyan Parag, who has been managing a right shoulder injury, has been cleared for fitness by the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence and may feature in these games.

India’s Updated T20I Squad for New Zealand Series:

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.