Shreyas Iyer will continue to be part of India's T20I squad for the remainder of the ongoing five-match series against New Zealand, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Monday. The decision comes in the wake of Tilak Varma's delayed recovery, which has ruled him out of the final two matches of the series.
The 31-year-old Iyer was initially drafted into the squad as a replacement after Tilak underwent surgery for an abdominal issue. Although the young left-hander has begun his rehabilitation process, he is yet to attain full match fitness, prompting the Indian team management to persist with Iyer as a cover option.
In an official update, the BCCI stated that Tilak has resumed physical training at the Centre of Excellence
and is progressing steadily in his recovery. However, the board made it clear that he will require more time before he is ready to return to competitive cricket. As a result, the 23-year-old will not be available for the remaining fixtures of the series against New Zealand.
According to the board's statement, Tilak is expected to rejoin the Indian squad on February 3, provided he achieves complete fitness. His return is strategically timed ahead of India's warm-up match for the T20 World Cup 2026, which is scheduled shortly after the conclusion of the bilateral series.
With Tilak sidelined, Iyer's continued presence in the squad offers India stability in the middle order as they look to maintain momentum in the series. His experience at the international level and ability to anchor innings while accelerating when required make him a valuable option for the team management.
The development also highlights India's cautious approach in managing player workload and recovery ahead of the global tournament. With the T20 World Cup just around the corner, the selectors appear keen to avoid rushing Tilak back into action and risking further complications.
India's updated T20I squad: 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.
