Tilak Varma Likely To Recover In 3-4 Weeks, May Miss Start Of T20 World Cup 2026: Report

Tilak has suffered an abdomen injury and has been advised to undergo surgery, which will take three to four weeks for him to recover from.

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Star Indian middle-order batter Tilak Varma, who has reportedly suffered an abdomen injury, is all set to miss the five-match T20I series between India and New Zealand, and there is a high possibility that he may miss India’s first few matches of the T20 World Cup 2026 as well.

The five-match T20I series between India and New Zealand will be played from January 21 to 31 across five venues in India, whereas India’s first T20 World Cup 2026 match is on February 7 in Mumbai against the United States of America.

According to a report in the Indian Express, the 23-year-old left-handed batter from Hyderabad, who scored a century (109) against Chandigarh on January 3, has been advised to undergo surgery, because of which he is likely to remain out of action

for three to four weeks.

“Tilak faced severe pain in his abdomen today (Wednesday). He was rushed to a hospital in Rajkot, where various scans were done, and reports were sent to doctors at the COE,” a BCCI source told Indian Express.

“Doctors have advised him to undergo surgery, which will take three to four weeks for him to recover. Chances of playing the entire T20I against New Zealand look bleak,” he added.

India’s first Group A match in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is less than a month away, and if Tilak undergoes surgery, the chances of him getting fully fit to play against the United States will be in danger.

After facing the United States at Wankhede Stadium, India will travel to Delhi for their second match against Namibia on February 12 at Arun Jaitley Stadium.

India’s third Group A match is scheduled against Pakistan on February 15 in Colombo. Tilak is expected to get fit by then.

According to the report, the BCCI selectors will name a replacement player for Tilak for the New Zealand series but are unlikely to consider Shubman Gill for the same.

Gill was India’s vice-captain in the T20I series against South Africa last month but was dropped from the teams picked for the T20 World Cup 2026 and the New Zealand series on December 20, 2025.