Indian batter Tilak Varma has been ruled out of the opening three matches of India’s five-game T20I series against New Zealand, starting January 21, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Thursday.
Tilak recently underwent surgery for an abdominal issue in Rajkot and was discharged from hospital on Thursday morning. According to the BCCI, the left-handed batter is scheduled to return to Hyderabad on Friday as he begins the recovery and rehabilitation process under medical supervision.
In an official statement, the BCCI outlined a cautious approach to Tilak’s return. “Tilak will resume physical training and gradually return to skill-based activities once his symptoms have fully resolved and wound healing is satisfactory,” the board said. The statement added that his availability for the final two matches of the series will depend on his progress during the return-to-training and skill phases.
The development comes as a setback for the Indian team, with the T20I series against New Zealand seen as an important assignment early in the international calendar. Tilak has emerged as a consistent performer in the shorter format and was expected to play a key role in India’s middle order during the series.
Despite the injury, Tilak has been in impressive form in domestic cricket. He was part of Hyderabad’s squad for two Group B fixtures in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. In the first of those matches, he registered his sixth List A century, underlining his batting rhythm and match readiness before the medical issue intervened.
The BCCI’s medical team will closely monitor Tilak’s recovery over the coming weeks. With two matches still scheduled after the initial three games, selectors and team management are expected to take a conservative stance, prioritising the player’s long-term fitness over a rushed return.
India’s T20I series against New Zealand begins on January 21 and spans five matches, providing opportunities for other batters to step up in Tilak’s absence. While his unavailability for the opening games is a blow, the possibility of his return later in the series remains open, depending entirely on how well he responds to rehabilitation and training workloads.
For now, Tilak’s focus will be on recovery, as India weigh their options ahead of a competitive T20I contest against New Zealand.
