IND vs NZ: Tilak Varma RULED OUT of last two T20Is; Shreyas Iyer asked to stay back

Tilak Varma, earlier, was ruled out of the first three IND vs NZ T20Is and was replaced by Shreyas Iyer.

India have dominated the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand, clinching an unassailable 3-0 lead with a commanding performance in the third T20I at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on January 25, 2026.

This emphatic series win comes as a strong statement from the Men in Blue ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which begins on February 7.

India’s success has been built on a lethal combination of excellent bowling and sensational batting. In the series opener and subsequent games, the bowlers have consistently kept New Zealand in check, while the top order has fired brilliantly.

Abhishek Sharma has been a standout with his explosive starts, Ishan Kishan has provided aggressive momentum at the top, and captain Suryakumar Yadav has delivered match-winning knocks confirming his return to form, thereby making the men in blue a dominant force to reckon.

Tilak Varma set to miss the remaining two T20Is against New Zealand, Shreyas Iyer added to squad

However, a key concern for the team is the delayed return of Tilak Varma due to injury. The left-handed batter, a regular No. 3 in T20Is and a proven performer under pressure, was initially sidelined for the first three matches. He was expected to feature in the fourth or fifth game after recovering from an abdominal/rib-related issue and being pain-free.

However, recent update from BCCI has confirmed that the Centre of Excellence (CoE) is adopting a cautious approach, prioritising full fitness ahead of the World Cup. Tilak is set to miss the remaining two T20Is as well, and will join the rest of the squad in Mumbai once he has regained full match fitness on 3rd February, ahead of India’s warm-up match for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Tilak should be available for India’s World Cup opener against the USA on February 7 if recovery progresses smoothly. This has led to Shreyas Iyer, initially named only for the first three games, staying with the squad as cover, though Ishan Kishan’s consistent performances have kept him in the lineup.

“India batter Tilak Varma has resumed physical training and is making steady progress with his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. However, he will require additional time to regain full match fitness and will not be available for the final two T20Is of the ongoing IDFC First Bank five-match T20I series.

“Tilak will link up with the squad in Mumbai once he has regained full match fitness on 3rd February, ahead of India’s warm-up match for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.The Men’s Selection Committee has recommended that Shreyas Iyer will continue as Tilak Varma’s replacement for the remaining matches,” said BCCI.

India’s updated T20I squad for IND vs NZ T20Is

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (VC), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (WK), Ravi Bishnoi

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