India has suffered a fresh injury scare ahead of the T20I series against New Zealand, with middle-order batter Tilak Varma sustaining an abdominal injury that could rule him out of the opening games.

Earlier, it was reported that Tilak was in Rajkot representing his state team in the Vijay Hazare Trophy when he complained of abdominal pain after breakfast on Wednesday morning. The discomfort escalated quickly, forcing him to be rushed to a local hospital, where multiple scans were conducted and reports were shared with doctors at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE).

According to a senior BCCI source, Tilak has been advised to undergo surgery and is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks.

“Tilak faced severe pain in his abdomen today. He was taken to a hospital in Rajkot, where scans were done and reports were sent to the CoE doctors. He has been advised surgery, and recovery could take three to four weeks. His chances of playing the entire T20I series against New Zealand look bleak,” the source confirmed.

The development has raised serious concerns over Tilak’s availability for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7. India are scheduled to play their opening match against the USA on the same day.

With Tilak set to miss at least the first three T20Is, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes the situation presents a clear opportunity for Shreyas Iyer to make a return to the T20I side.

“Who can it be? Shreyas Iyer. ‘Sarpanch’ sahab should be picked automatically. He is already playing well and has scored runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy too. Even when Iyer was not picked for the Asia Cup, it felt slightly unfair, though understandable,” Chopra said on X (formerly Twitter).

Aakash Chopra further highlighted Shreyas Iyer’s suitability for the middle-order role.

“There is an opportunity here for a middle-order batter. He is experienced, has set the IPL on fire, and fits the bill perfectly. Shreyas Iyer gets my vote,” he added.

While backing Iyer as his first choice, Chopra also floated a couple of alternative options. Assam all-rounder Riyan Parag was mentioned as a left-field pick due to his dual skill set.

“Riyan Parag could also be a candidate. He has been part of the T20I setup before and can bowl as well. If India want a multi-skilled player, Parag could be that guy. But my vote remains for Shreyas Iyer,” Chopra said.

Chopra also briefly mentioned wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma as an outside option but ruled out changes at the top of the order.

“India doesn’t need an opener, so no Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal or Shubman Gill. India needs a middle-order batter, and Jitesh has been part of the side recently. But you don’t need three wicketkeepers either. So don’t look too far, pick Iyer,” he concluded.

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