Will Tilak Verma be Ruled Out of the T20 World Cup? Fitness Doubt Loom Ahead of Surgery

January 8, 2026: India’s Asia Cup hero Tilak Varma has suffered an abdomen injury, which could rule him out of the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. More importantly, India are concerned about his availability for the T20 World Cup, as the left-hander is a key part of the team’s middle order.

According to a report in The Indian Express, Tilak was in Rajkot to play a Vijay Hazare Trophy match for Hyderabad when he felt pain in his abdomen after breakfast on Wednesday morning. He later consulted doctors at the Centre of Excellence (CoE), who advised him to undergo surgery. This could even rule him out of the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to begin on February 7.

If Tilak undergoes surgery, his recovery is expected to take around a month. The T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka is set to begin in less than a month, making his availability doubtful.

“Tilak faced severe pain in his abdomen on Wednesday and was rushed to a hospital in Rajkot. Several scans were done, and the reports were sent to doctors at the CoE,” a BCCI source said.

“The doctors have advised surgery, which will take three to four weeks for recovery. His chances of playing the full T20I series against New Zealand look very slim,” the source added.

Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya Get Match Practice

India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has been declared fit for the upcoming series against New Zealand. He had suffered a spleen injury during the Australia tour in October last year and also underwent a minor procedure. Iyer was picked in the Indian squad subject to fitness and showed no signs of discomfort while batting in Mumbai’s Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Himachal Pradesh a few days ago. He is also set to play in the final league-stage match of the tournament today.

In another update, Hardik Pandya is set to play for Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy clash against Chandigarh today. He scored a brilliant 133 against Vidarbha in his previous match in the tournament. However, Hardik has been rested from the New Zealand ODI series to keep him fresh for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

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