The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that Tilak Varma will miss the opening part of India’s upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. The young left-handed batter has been ruled out of the first three matches of the five-game series due to an abdominal injury. Dealing a setback to India’s preparations ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
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According to the BCCI, Tilak underwent surgery for the abdominal issue on January 7 and was discharged from the hospital the following morning. The board added that the 23-year-old is recovering well and has already begun the early stages of rehabilitation.
He will return to physical training first before gradually moving back into skill-based cricket activities. Provided his symptoms continue to improve, and the surgical wound heals satisfactorily. While Tilak is certain to miss the first three T20Is, his availability for the final two matches of the series will be decided later.
The BCCI said that his progress during the return-to-training phase will be closely monitored. Before a call is taken on whether he can feature in the latter part of the series. The injury comes at an unfortunate time for Tilak Varma, who has been in excellent form in recent months.
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T20 World Cup: Tilak Varma Climbs to No.3 in ICC T20I Batting Rankings
He was the standout performer in India’s T20I series against South Africa. He scored 187 runs across four innings and finished as the highest run-getter. His consistency and composure in the middle order have made him one of India’s most reliable T20 batters.
Currently ranked third in the ICC Men’s T20I Batting Rankings, Tilak has firmly established himself as a key part of India’s white-ball setup. His performances earned him a place in India’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup. The team will be looking to fine-tune combinations and build momentum over the next year.
India, one of the co-hosts of the 2026 tournament, will begin their five-match T20I series against New Zealand on January 21. The series is seen as an important step in India’s preparation, particularly. They experiment with team balance and workload management for their core players.
Away from injury updates and team selection, discussions around cricket’s role beyond the boundary ropes have also surfaced. West Indies veteran all-rounder and Gujarat Titans overseas star Jason Holder has spoken out strongly.
Against the growing animosity seen in India-Pakistan cricket encounters, especially in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup 2026. Holder expressed disappointment over the scenes following India’s victory in the T20 Asia Cup 2025 final.
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T20 World Cup Final: Jason Holder Calls on India and Pakistan to Lead by Example
The Indian team chose not to go on stage to receive the trophy from the Asian Cricket Council. And Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also a federal minister in Pakistan. I don’t like this India-Pakistan beef that goes way beyond the cricket field. It is really sad, Holder said during a conversation with Grace Hayden on her show Game on with Grace.
They are two powerhouses in world cricket, and to see how things have transpired is disappointing. I saw India win the Asia Cup, and they didn’t go to accept the trophy. I think it’s too much. Holder stressed that cricket should remain free of political and diplomatic tensions, especially given the influence the sport holds globally.
These things shouldn’t be in our game. We talk about world peace and making the world a better place, and that’s not what you want to see, he added. The former West Indies captain believes that meaningful change must come from influential figures within the sport.
He urged both teams to use cricket as a bridge rather than a battleground. If it has to change, it has to come from people who are influential. India and Pakistan are both powerful teams. A lot may be happening off the field, but on the field, they can come together through sport, Holder said.
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