Testicular Torsion Explained: Why Tilak Varma Had an Emergency Surgery and Its Health Risks

Indian cricket’s star middle-order batter Tilak Varma underwent urgent surgery for testicular torsion at Rajkot weeks before the T20 World Cup 2026 tournament. According to news reports, the 23-year-old was rushed to a hospital early this morning after experiencing severe abdominal pain shortly after breakfast. Medical examinations revealed testicular torsion – a condition where the spermatic cord, which supplies blood to the testicle, twists and cuts off blood flow, causing sudden, severe pain, swelling, nausea, and vomiting. Doctors say it requires immediate surgery to save the testicle from permanent damage or loss. Reports say doctors have advised a recovery period of two to four weeks, making his availability for the upcoming T20 World Cup uncertain.

What is testicular torsion?

Testicular torsion is a serious condition that affects the testicles. Doctors say if you don’t get immediate treatment, your testicle could die. The spermatic cord supplies blood to your testicles. Testicles are the reproductive organs in the pouch, also known as the scrotum, below your penis, which make hormones and sperm. According to experts, the risk of losing your testicle increases the longer you wait to get treatment for testicular torsion:

• Almost everyone keeps their testicle if they get treatment within four to six hours.
• Around half of people keep their testicle if they get treatment after 12 hours.
• Only around 10 per cent of people keep their testicle if they get treatment after 24 hours.

It is a rare condition and affects about one in 4,000 men under the age of 25 years. Experts say it is usually a spontaneous event, meaning it occurs without any apparent cause. It almost always affects only one testicle and usually affects the left testicle.

What causes testicular torsion?

According to experts, testicular torsion mostly occurs in those men who have a “bell clapper” deformity – when the testicles cannot twist because they attach to their scrotum. If you have a bell clapper deformity, your testicles hang in your scrotum and swing freely, like a clapper in a bell. The condition also occurs after an injury to your testicle or scrotum, although physical activities will not cause it. Jumping, lunging, twisting, or any other actions do not lead to a torsion but can happen while you are exercising.

Signs and symptoms of testicular torsion

The main symptom of testicular torsion is sudden, severe pain in one of your testicles. It can occur at any time – when you’re awake, sleeping, standing, sitting, or active. Other signs include:

• Painful swelling on one side of your scrotum
• A visible lump on a testicle
• One testicle is higher in your scrotum than the other
• Discolouration
• Nausea and vomiting
• Severe abdominal pain
• Peeing more than usual
• High fever

Doctors say if you have sudden pain or discomfort in one or both testicles but no other symptoms, you should still contact a healthcare provider right away, as it is still a sign of a medical emergency.

What are the complications of the condition?

If there is no urgent treatment provided, testicular torsion may cause:

• Permanent damage to your testicle, as they can only survive about six hours without blood flow.
• Permanent infertility due to lower sperm count.