BIG boost for India ahead of T20 World Cup 2026; THIS star player is fully fit for the tournament

India are scheduled to play a warm-up match against South Africa ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.

India will face a major challenge in defending their title at the T20 World Cup 2026. The Men-in-Blue won the previous edition in 2024 by crushing South Africa in the final.

India are the red-hot favourite to win the trophy due to the home advantage and their incredible form in T20Is over the last two years. Suryakumar Yadav will captain India in the tournament. He will lead a strong set of experienced and young players.

The Men in Blue are placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, the USA, the Netherlands, and Namibia. They will commence their journey with the opening clash against the USA on February 7 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Ahead of the campaign, they will also play a warm-up match against South Africa on February 4 in Navi Mumbai. Ahead of this match, some good news has arrived for India as one of their star players has regained his fitness.

Tilak Varma regains his fitness for the T20 World Cup 2026

Notably, Tilak Varma is the number three batter for India in T20Is. He last played in the campaign against South Africa in December. He sustained an injury in a Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) game and underwent testicular surgery. As a result, he was out of the field in January and also missed the T20I series against New Zealand.

However, the left-handed batter has regained his fitness and is all set to play for India in the T20 World Cup 2026. On Monday, he proved his fitness by featuring for India A in the warm-up match against the USA at DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

Batting at one down, Varma scored 38 runs off 24 balls, smacking three boundaries and two sixes in the match. Striking the ball at 158.33, he looked in good touch and made a mark with the bat.

N Jagadeesan (104) starred with his century, taking the team’s total to 238/3 in the first innings. Later, India A bowled out USA for 200 to win by 38 runs.

Now, Varma is pulling up his socks to play for India in the warm-up match against South Africa on February 4. This is a big boost for the Men in Blue, as Verma has consistently impressed everyone with his batting over the past two years.

In his absence from the previous T20I series against New Zealand, Ishan Kishan was tried at the number three spot.

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