Team India batsman Shreyas Iyer is set to continue as Tilak Varma`s replacement for the remainder of the T20I series against New Zealand.
The Board of Control for India (BCCI) shared a post on its official social media handle, confirming the news.
The BCCI stated that Tilak has resumed his training and is progressing well at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. He will need more time to regain match fitness and will miss out on the fourth and fifth T20I matches against the “Black Caps”.
Earlier, the left-handed batsman underwent surgery for an abdominal issue in Rajkot, and the Men`s Selection Committee had then added Iyer to the T20I squad for the first three matches as a replacement.
“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,” the BCCI media advisory said.
Tilak is expected to join Team India on February 3 in Mumbai ahead of the side`s warm-up match for the T20 World Cup 2026, the BCCI said.
“The Men`s Selection Committee has recommended that Shreyas Iyer will continue as Tilak Varma`s replacement for the remaining matches,” added the BCCI`s advisory.
The Suryakumar Yadav-led team has already sealed the five-match T20I series by taking a lead of 3-0 against New Zealand.
The fourth T20I match between the teams is scheduled to be played on January 28 at the ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
The “Men in Blue” will soon engage in the T20 World Cup 2026, starting from February 7. They will open their global showpiece campaign against the United States of America (USA) on the same date at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The team is placed in Group A of the tournament along with Namibia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and the USA.
India`s updated T20I squad
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), Ravi Bishnoi.
(With ANI Inputs)
