- By Vishal Pushkar
- Tue, 20 Jan 2026 03:46 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
India vs New Zealand: Indian middle-order Tilak Varma, who has earned his place in the T20I setup with impactful knocks, is likely to attain full fitness after he underwent a testicular torsion surgery in Rajkot last month. Notably, Varma is likely to join BCCI's CoE (Centre of Excellence) on Tuesday for a fitness test to get 'Return To Play' status, as per a report from the Times of India.
As per BCCI's media release, Varma has been ousted from the first three T20Is against New Zealand, after he experienced severe pain during a Vijay Hazare Trophy game in Rajkot.
The report further stated that Varma's pain is under control, as he will head to CoE for further assessment.
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“If everything goes well, he will be fit before the fourth T20I on January 28 in Vishakhapatnam. He has resumed physical training and, in a day or two, will start batting and other skill-based activities," a source was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
After a successful T20I series against South Africa, Varma represented his home side Hyderabad in VHT in two games, where he scored 109 against Chandigarh on January 3, along with a 34 against Bengal.
Tilak Varma's Stats In T20I
Varma has been a key batter of the Indian side in the T20I setup over the last year. The stylish left-handed batter played a crucial role in his side's Asia Cup 2025 win, where he played a match-winning unbeaten 69* in the final against arch-rivals Pakistan.
The 23-year-old made his T20I debut against the West Indies at Tarouba in August 2023. Since then, he has played 40 matches and 37 innings, amassing 1183 runs at a fantastic average of 49.29 with a strike rate of 144.09. The left-handed batter has hammered two centuries and six half-centuries.
Nagpur, Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvanthapuram will host five T20Is between India and New Zealand.
Inputs from Agency