India’s middle-order batter Tilak Varma has suffered an abdominal injury, which could sideline him for three to four weeks.
The development comes with less than a month remaining for the T20 World Cup 2026, slated to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
While the southpaw is set to miss the upcoming five-T20I series against New Zealand, he faces race against time to be fit for the global showpiece.
According to a TOI report, Tilak was in Rajkot to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy fixture for Hyderabad when he experienced acute testicular pain on Wednesday (January 7).
"He was immediately rushed to the Gokul Hospital, where scans diagnosed him with testicular torsion, and doctors advised immediate surgery. Tilak subsequently underwent successful surgery yesterday and is now doing well. He will be out of the hospital today," Saurashtra Cricket Association president Jaydev Shah, who has been following up on Tilak's treatment, quoted as saying by TOI on Thursday (January 8).
The BCCI selection committee is likely to name a replacement for the New Zealand series, starting on January 21 in Nagpur. Tilak's injury could open the T20I comeback doors for Shreyas Iyer, who recently made a competitive return for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy after recovering from spleen injury.
Tilak Varma, 23, has established himself as a key batter in India’s T20I setup. He played an instrumental role in the team’s Asia Cup triumph last September, with a match-winning knock of 69* (53 balls) in the title clash against Pakistan.
(With TOI Inputs)
