India’s star T20I batter Tilak Varma has been ruled out of the first three T20Is of the five-T20I series against New Zealand. After undergoing an emergency surgery for an abdominal issue, Varma is racing against time to regain fitness for the T20 World Cup 2026. While Varma’s replacement for the first three T20Is against Mitchell Santner’s side is yet to be named, India’s T20 World Cup 2007-winning all-rounder Irfan Pathan feels that ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer should make his T20I comeback. Pathan feels that Iyer will be the ideal replacement considering his experience as skipper Suryakumar Yadav is struggling for form.
"It will be interesting to see how Team India handle these injury concerns. The upcoming series against New Zealand will make us realise how important are these two players. New Zealand is not that strong a side. They will surely pose a challenge but the challenge India will face due to their injuries will be clear to see. I feel India should draft in Shreyas Iyer for Tilak Varma. Iyer also plays at the same spot and plays spin exceptionally well. If Suryakumar Yadav is struggling, an experienced batter is a must. Shreyas is experienced and a leader, so need to look elsewhere. There are other options like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad but these are openers. Shreyas is a bonafide middle-order batter," Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
Varma has been instrumental in India’s T20I success in 2025, including the T20 Asia Cup 2025 final run chase against Pakistan.
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Iyer’s long T20I absence and numbers
31-year-old Iyer hasn't played a T20I since December 2023. From 51 T20Is, he has scored 1,104 runs at an average of 30.66 and strike rate of 136.12, including eight fifties.
Iyer 2.0 in T20s
Iyer has reinvented himself as a T20I batter since taking over Punjab Kings (PBKS) captaincy. In 17 Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 games, he scored 604 runs at an average of 50.33 and strike rate of 175.07. He scored six half-centuries in the season, including an unbeaten 97.
Iyer’s recent form
After a spleen injury which ruled him out of ODI series against New Zealand, Iyer returned to action in Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26. In his comeback game, he scored 82 runs from 53 balls against Himachal Pradesh while leading Mumbai in an injured Shardul Thakur's absence. Then, he scored 45 runs from 34 balls against Punjab in an unsuccessful run chase. On his ODI comeback, he was dismissed for a 47-ball 49 in Vadodara. Kyle Jamieson knocked him over, robbing him of a fifty.