Tilak Varma Surgery Update: Will He Play In the T20 World Cup?

After he recovers, Tilak Varma would require BCCI medical clearance to participate in India’s 4th T20I against New Zealand on January 28 in Vizag.

Tilak Varma Surgery Update: Will He Play In the T20 World Cup?

Tilak Varma underwent surgery for a testicular injury, putting his T20 World Cup participation in doubt. (via News 18)

A key member of the Indian T20I side, Tilak Varma most recently, underwent emergency surgery. Consequently, the 23-year-old’s availability for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, scheduled to start next month, is now uncertain. 

Tilak Varma was the hero of India’s 2025 Asia Cup triumph, winning the POTM award for an unbeaten 69 runs off 53 balls in a thrilling 147-run chase against Pakistan in the final. The young batter has been in ecstatic form in T20Is since making his debut in 2023. In 2025, Varma scored 567 runs in 18 T20I innings, at a remarkable average of 47.25 and a strike-rate of 129.11, including four half-centuries. 

His performances in the shortest format made him an automatic selection for the 15-man squad for the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup. Only days before the World Cup, Varma, however, was rushed to the hospital after complaining of acute testicular pain while on VHT duty. He later underwent surgery to fix a testicular torsion, a medical condition where the spermatic cord twists, cutting off blood circulation. 

A BCCI official shared the details, stating that Varma was transported to Rajkot’s Gokul Hospital. There, following scans and evaluation by doctors, he was advised to undergo immediate surgery. The board also confirmed that Varma has been discharged and that he has already flown back to Hyderabad. He is expected to resume light physical training and skill-based activities once the surgical wounds heal.

While Tilak Varma posted a social media update on returning to action soon, he has been ruled out of the first three games of the five-match T20I series between India and New Zealand. While certain media reports have suggested that the batter might be unavailable for the entirety of the NZ series and the T20 World Cup, Hyderabad coach DB Ravi Teja dismissed speculations by asserting that Varma will be ready to play in a week’s time. 

It was a very minor surgery he underwent in Rajkot. There is nothing serious or alarming about it. He will be ready in three to four days… I personally think he should be fine for the Twenty20 series against New Zealand.

Varma was in great touch in the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy as well, having scored a hundred in his first appearance of the season against Chandigarh. In two matches, he scored 143 runs at an average of 71.50, before the untimely injury setback. 

Three players who could replace injured Tilak Varma in India’s T20I squad 

In a massive blow to India’s plans for the upcoming T20 World Cup, Varma’s participation remains doubtful after the ace batter underwent surgery for a testicular injury. While he is expected to make a quick recovery, he will be out for the preceding T20I series against New Zealand. 

Tilak Varma replacements
Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devdutt Padikkal are among players who might be called up to replace Tilak Varma. (via Inside Sport)

Varma has already been ruled out of the opening three T20Is vs. New Zealand, with the BCCI mulling over whether to rest him for the series to ensure that he remains injury-free. The Hyderabad batter’s potential absence against the Blackcaps means that the selectors might be searching for a replacement. Devdutt Padikkal and Ruturaj Gaikwad are two in-form players who might be considered for selection.

However, Shreyas Iyer remains the front-runner to replace Varma for the New Zealand T20Is, as he is set to return to the Indian team after a lengthy injury layoff. Iyer, the Indian ODI vice-captain, sustained a spleen injury during a white-ball tour to Australia last year. The 31-year-old has already played for Mumbai in the VHT, scoring 127 runs in two matches at an average of 63.50 and a strike-rate of 145.98. 

Apart from them, Shubman Gill, who was excluded from the Indian T20I squad due to a string of low scores, could return as a replacement for Tilak Varma. Yashasvi Jaiswal is another player who might be considered.

Also Read: