Tilak Varma Set To Miss T20Is Against New Zealand, Washington Sundar Faces Race Against Time: Report

T20 World Cup 2026: India's top-order batting mainstay in T20Is, Tilak Varma, is likely to miss his comeback into international Cricket against New Zealand, as per a report. As per a report from The Indian Express, Tilak Varma is 'pushing hard' to obtain the green light from BCCI's (Board of Cricket Control in India) Centre of Excellence.

Notably, Tilak sustained an injury during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which ruled him out of the first three games of the ongoing series against New Zealand.

The report also suggested that Team India management is advising against Tilak's rushed return, which may prove fatal before the T20 World Cup 2026. The 23-year-old player from Hyderabad underwent abdominal surgery, after which he was advised rest for at least two weeks.

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“He is ruled out of the first three T20Is against New Zealand. His availability for the remaining two matches will be assessed based on his progress during the return-to-training and skill phases," BCCI secretary Devajit Sakia stated then.

It will be interesting to see how the team composition is going to be when Tilak makes his comeback into the side. Currently, Ishan Kishan is playing at Tilak's position (number 3), and the wicketkeeper batter has made his presence felt with a stunning half-century during the 2nd T20I.

Washington Sundar faces race against time

India all-rounder Washington Sundar has been away from the action ever since he suffered an injury in the lower rib during the first ODI in Vadodara. This injury kept him from playing in the last two ODIs, which India lost. As per the report, Sundar needs two more weeks to get fit as the management has started to look for replacement.

“He needs two more weeks to be completely fit. The medical team has advised him to rest for two weeks more. The senior selection committee and team management will have to take a call on whether to continue with him or have a replacement," the report quoted a BCCI source as saying.

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India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.