Tilak Varma is nearing full fitness and is expected to feature in a simulation game at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, following which he will receive clearance for India comeback.

The southpaw underwent a surgery for abdominal issue on January 7. As a result, he was ruled out of the ongoing five-T20I series against New Zealand.

With the T20 World Cup 2026 around the corner, Tilak recently checked into the CoE in order to seek clearance on his fitness and further assessment to get Return to Play.

According to a TOI report, the simulation match will be held on Friday (January 30), post which BCCI will issue him the fitness clearance. The left-hander is expected to reunite with the rest of India’s World Cup squad on February 3 for their warm-up fixtures.

Tilak was supposed to join India’s squad for the last two T20Is against New Zealand. However, the BCCI clarified through a release that despite resuming physical training, the batter will need more time to attain “full match fitness". As a result, Shreyas Iyer retained his place in the squad for the remainder of the series.

On the other hand, all-rounder Washington Sundar, who is also part of the T20I World Cup squad and is currently recovering from a rib injury, will also participate in a simulation game soon to prove his fitness.

Sundar had sustained the injury while bowling against New Zealand during the ODI series opener in Vadodara earlier this month. Subsequently, he was ruled out from the remainder of the white-ball fixtures against the Kiwis, including two ODIs and five T20Is.

Mayank Yadav has also reportedly regained full fitness and will represent India A during the T20 World Cup warm-up games. The right-arm quick has spent a significant period on the sidelines nursing a stress fracture.

All-rounder Riyan Parag, who recovered from a shoulder injury recently, is also expected to play in the simulation game on Friday in Bengaluru.