Tilak Varma will travel to the T20 World Cup without a single competitive T20 under his belt this year. The 23-year-old left-hander, recovering from testicular surgery carried out in early January, has been given extra time to hit full fitness and will skip the remainder of India’s home series against New Zealand.
“[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,” the BCCI said in Monday’s medical update.
The board expects Varma to link up with the main squad in Mumbai on 3 February, one day before India face South Africa in their official warm-up. Until then, Shreyas Iyer – left out of the World Cup party but already involved in this bilateral series – keeps his place as cover.
Immediate balance first
Varma had become an almost automatic pick in India’s fluid middle order. He top-scored in the South Africa T20Is in December and supplied a decisive 68* in the Asia Cup final. His absence has reopened a door for Ishan Kishan, who marked his latest opportunity with a blistering 76 from 32 balls after India were 6 for 2 in the first New Zealand match. Captain Suryakumar Yadav, speaking post-game, said: “Ishan’s intent changes the tempo for everyone else.”
Abhishek Sharma has provided further top-order thrust, rattling India’s second-fastest T20I fifty on Sunday. At the other end of the form scale, Sanju Samson’s last three knocks amount to just sixteen runs, a dip that former opener Aakash Chopra described on his video channel as “a rut, but not a terminal one”.
Fitness file
There is still no fresh word on Washington Sundar, who bruised ribs during the first ODI against New Zealand on 11 January. The off-spinning all-rounder is one of four frontline slow-bowling options in India’s 15, alongside Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi. Sides can freely replace injured players until 30 January; thereafter changes need approval from the ICC’s technical committee.
The A-side angle
To keep fringe players ticking over, India A will meet the USA in Navi Mumbai on 2 February and Namibia in Bengaluru four days later. Riyan Parag, cleared after a right-shoulder niggle, is expected to feature. Selectors see that programme as a safety net in case anyone in the main squad suffers a late setback.
Looking ahead
Assuming no complications, Varma’s first hit-out since surgery should come in the South Africa warm-up. It will leave him scant game-time, yet team management appear comfortable. A senior support-staff member, speaking informally, noted: “He’s been batting indoors for ten days; it’s really about fielding loads and sprint work now.”
Updated India squad v New Zealand (T20Is)
Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-capt), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravi Bishnoi.
The broader picture remains straightforward: India want Varma fit, firing and batting in the top four come 4 February. If rehabilitation stays on schedule, they should get exactly that – even if the road back has been a touch longer than first planned.
