Tilak Varma doubtful for New Zealand T20Is with injury — who could replace him as India plan for T20 World Cup 2026?
Just a couple of weeks ahead of their five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Team India have suffered a major setback. Asia Cup 2025 final hero Tilak Varma has reported an abdominal injury, which is likely to rule him out of the five-match home series against the Blackcaps.
Tilak is also racing against time to regain full fitness ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin on February 7. The left-handed batter is India’s second-highest T20I run-scorer since the start of 2025, having amassed 567 runs in 18 innings at a strike rate of 129.15, including four half-centuries.
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Tilak undergoes surgery after suffering abdominal injury
Tilak featured in Hyderabad’s previous Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025–26 match against Bengal on December 6 in Rajkot. The abdominal injury is reported to have not occurred during the game, with the batter experiencing pain after breakfast on Wednesday (January 7).
Tilak was expected to feature in Hyderabad’s final group-stage match against Jammu & Kashmir. However, The Indian Express reported that the 23-year-old has since consulted doctors at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.
“Tilak faced severe pain in his abdomen today (Wednesday). He was rushed to a hospital in Rajkot, where various scans were done, and reports were sent to doctors at the COE. Doctors have advised him to undergo surgery, which will take three to four weeks for him to recover. Chances of playing the entire T20I against New Zealand look bleak,” Indian Express claimed.
Since the end of the T20 World Cup 2024, Tilak has been the fourth leading run-getter in T20Is at number four among Test-playing nations. He bagged 324 runs in 10 innings at an average of 54 and a strike rate of 123.19, thanks to one fifty.
Meanwhile, during the same period, he put up a jaw-dropping performance at number three. Tilak has collected 422 T20I runs in seven T20I innings in that position. The southpaw averages 140.66 at a strike rate of 168.80, thanks to two centuries and as many half-centuries.
The Mumbai Indians (MI) batter was the second leading run-getter for India in their Asia Cup 2025 triumph. He recorded 213 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 131.48. His best score of an unbeaten 69 runs came in the final against Pakistan when they were reduced to 20/3 in the 147-run chase.
Moreover, Tilak finished the five-match T20I series against South Africa as the highest run-getter. The Hyderabad-born notched up 187 runs at 62.33 at a strike rate of 131.69, shouldering two half-centuries. These numbers give a pure reflection of the batter’s importance to India in the shortest format.
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Options to replace Tilak
Tilak has been a vital T20I campaigner for India in various situations and conditions. With his injury, there are doubts about his participation in the T20 World Cup 2026. The medical reports claimed that he would need at least four weeks to recover. That will see him missing at least India’s opening game on February 7 in Mumbai.
In that case, the blue brigade will need a replacement. However, Tilak’s absence may not be enough for former T20I vice-captain Shubman Gill to earn a recall. Gill, who has been axed from the T20I squad, managed only 291 runs in 15 T20I innings since the beginning of 2025. This remains the second-lowest runs by India’s top seven in the last 13 months among those who featured in at least 15 T20I innings.
The best option could be to use Ishan Kishan at number four. The left-handed batter was in sublime touch during Jharkhand’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025/26 victory. He collected 517 runs in 10 innings at an average of 57.44 and a strike rate of 197.32, thanks to two centuries and as many fifties.
Apart from that, the selectors may think of going back to Shreyas Iyer, whose last T20I came more than two years ago. Moreover, his recent performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) was excellent. The veteran led the Punjab Kings (PBKS) to the IPL 2025 final, where they ended up as the runners-up.
He collected 604 runs in the previous IPL season in 17 innings. Shreyas averaged 50.33 at a blistering strike rate of 175.07, thanks to six half-centuries and the best score of an undefeated 97 runs.
India may make any change to their T20 World Cup 2026 squad till January 31. Post that period, they will need to consult ICC’s medical team for any injury replacement. The defending champions will begin their campaign on February 7. The encounter will take place against United States of America (USA) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
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