Tilak Varma Bats And Bowls In Nets Ahead Of Joining Team India For T20 World Cup 2026 | Watch

Star Indian batter Tilak Varma, who is not playing in the ongoing five-match T20I series between India and New Zealand after undergoing surgery for an abdominal issue on January 7, has kicked off his preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The 23-year-old left-handed batter from Hyderabad, who is set to be a key player for the Indian team in the 20-team tournament starting February 7, took to Instagram on Friday (January 30) to share a post in which he can be seen batting and bowling.

In the viral video, Tilak, who scored a superb fifty for India against Pakistan in the final of the Asia Cup 2025 played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 28, 2025, can be seen going down the ground and playing an aggressive

shot against a fast bowler.

Here’s a look:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tilak Varma (@tilakvarma9)

Tilak is a very important member of India’s T20I team, and his return from injury is big positive news for India.

The left-handed batter, who represents Mumbai Indians in the IPL, is India’s designated No. 3 batter in the 20-over format of the game.

In Tilak’s absence, Ishan Kishan batted at No. 3 for India in the first three T20Is against New Zealand and impressed with his batting performances.

It will be interesting to see how the Indian team management fit both Ishan and Tilak in the playing XI once Tilak also becomes available for selection. There is also a possibility that one may warm the bench to make way for the other, as they both are left-handed batters with similar skill sets.

Tilak, who last played for India in the fifth T20I against South Africa in Ahmedabad on December 19, 2025, and scored 73 runs from just 42 balls as a No. 3 batter, is expected to join the Indian team next week after completing his rehabilitation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru and become available for selection in the T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai on February 4.

Tilak has never featured in any ICC tournament for India before.

Tilak’s record in T20Is

Since making his T20I debut for India in Tarouba on August 3, 2023, against the West Indies, Tilak has played 40 matches and has 1183 runs to his credit. He scored two centuries (back-to-back) against South Africa in November 2024 and also has six half-centuries.

Though Tilak doesn’t bowl regularly for India, he has 3 wickets to his name, which includes best figures of 1/1.