India’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 final hero Tilak Varma has suffered an abdominal injury that has put his participation in the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand in serious doubt, just weeks ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
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The 23-year-old complained of sharp pain in his abdomen on the morning of January 7 in Rajkot, a day before Hyderabad’s final league-stage fixture in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26. He was immediately rushed to a local hospital, where medical scans were conducted and later shared with doctors at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE).
“Tilak faced severe pain in his abdomen today (Wednesday). He was rushed to a hospital in Rajkot, where various scans were done, and reports were sent to doctors at the CoE,” a source told The Indian Express.
“Doctors have advised him to undergo surgery, which will take three to four weeks for him to recover. The chances of him playing the full T20I series against New Zealand look bleak,” the source added.
Who could replace Tilak Varma?
If Varma undergoes surgery and remains sidelined for three to four weeks, his availability for the early matches of the T20 World Cup 2026 could also come under threat. India are scheduled to begin their World Cup campaign against the USA on January 8.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav was confirmed as the team’s designated No. 3 batter last month, but Varma’s absence could see Suryakumar move back into that position. It remains to be seen whether Shubman Gill, who was dropped from the T20I squad earlier, is recalled as a replacement.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to announce Varma’s replacement for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which begins on January 21.
Tilak Varma’s impact in numbers
Tilak Varma has been one of India’s most consistent performers in T20 internationals. In 37 innings, he has scored 1,183 runs at an impressive average of 49.29 and a strike rate of 144.09, including two centuries and six half-centuries.
His record while chasing targets stands out even further. From 16 innings in run chases, Varma has accumulated 544 runs at an average of 68, with all his T20I half-centuries coming while batting second.
