India hit by injury blow as Tilak Varma ruled out ahead of New Zealand T20Is.
India’s preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 have suffered a setback as Tilak Varma underwent surgery for testicular torsion, ruling him out of the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand starting January 21. This series is India’s last assignment before defending their World Cup title at home.
The 23-year-old left-hander, representing Hyderabad in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Rajkot, suffered acute abdominal pain during a match and was immediately taken to Gokul Hospital. Scans confirmed testicular torsion, and doctors advised immediate surgery. Tilak has successfully undergone the procedure and is now recovering.
He is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks, ruling him out of the entire New Zealand series and putting his participation in the early stages of World Cup preparations in doubt. The team management is expected to name a replacement, though sources indicate that Shubman Gill — omitted from India’s T20 World Cup squad — is unlikely to be considered.
Tilak has been a crucial part of India’s T20I setup over the past year. He played a key role in India’s Asia Cup 2025 triumph, scoring a match-winning 69 off 53 balls* in the final against Pakistan. He was also the highest run-scorer in India’s recent home series against South Africa, amassing 187 runs in four innings.
With the southpaw unavailable, India will need a capable replacement to fill the void for the New Zealand T20Is and the build-up to the T20 World Cup.
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