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India’s designated no.3 batter Tilak Varma underwent surgery after testicular torsion during Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26 which ruled him out of first three T20Is of the series against New Zealand. With just over two weeks ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, Varma has begin physical training and targetting a return for the fourth T20I of the five-T20I series against the Kiwis.
“If everything goes well, he will be fit before the fourth T20I on January 28 in Visakhapatnam. He has resumed physical training and, in a day or two, will start batting and other skill-based activities,” a source told TOI.
The report also says that Varma is not feeling any pain. The southpaw is heading to the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. After the fitness test, it will be determined when he gets the Return to Play (RTP) green light.
In Varma’s absence, India’s ODI vice-captain and Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper Shreyas Iyer has been recalled for the first three T20Is against New Zealand. Also, an injured Washington Sundar has been replaced by leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi.
Earlier, Ishan Kishan was recalled as replacement for an out-of-form Shubman Gill. Kishan can also be considered for the no.3 role in the T20I series against the Mitchell Santner-led side.
Varma’s T20I numbers in 2025
In 2025, Varma played 20 T20Is and scored 567 runs from 18 innings, averaging 47.25 at a strike rate of 129.15. He scored four half-centuries, including an unbeaten fifty in the T20 Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan. During this period, he batted at different positions as per the team’s demands.
India's T20I squad for New Zealand series -
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer (first three T20Is), Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Tilak Varma (last two T20Is).
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