Tilak Varma Ruled Out of Remaining NZ T20Is; Set to Return for T20 World Cup

Tilak Varma was ruled out of the last two T20Is against New Zealand but was declared fit to rejoin the Indian squad ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.

Star left-handed batter Tilak Varma, who was ruled out of the first three T20Is against New Zealand, will also miss the remaining two matches of the series. However, the 23-year-old has been declared fit for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

According to a report in Dainik Jagran on Sunday (January 25), the Hyderabad-born cricketer, who is India’s designated No. 3 batter in T20Is, will join the Indian squad on February 3 in Mumbai. He is expected to link up with the team ahead of India’s T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa, scheduled for February 4 in Navi Mumbai.

India’s opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026 is set to take place on February 7 in Mumbai, where they will face the United States of America (USA).

ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur Honoured With Padma Shri Ahead of 77th Republic Day

In Tilak’s absence, Shreyas Iyer was added to India’s squad for the first three T20Is against New Zealand. There is a strong possibility that the right-handed Mumbai batter will continue to be part of the squad for the remaining two matches of the ongoing series. It remains to be seen whether the Indian team management includes him in the playing XI.

Shreyas Iyer, who captains Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL), is the second most expensive player in IPL history. He was signed for ₹26.75 crore by the Punjab-based franchise during the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Tilak Varma’s Glorious Record For India

Tilak Varma has played 40 T20I matches for India so far and has scored 1,183 runs, including two centuries and six half-centuries. He was India’s top scorer in the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan, which was played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 28, 2025.

During Tilak’s absence, Ishan Kishan was promoted to the No. 3 position for India in the first three T20Is against New Zealand. The 27-year-old left-handed wicketkeeper-batter from Jharkhand impressed with a blistering 76 off just 32 balls in the second T20I at Raipur on January 23.