Tilak Varma to Miss Initial T20Is Against New Zealand Due to Surgery

Tilak Varma's Absence in Upcoming T20I Series

Indian cricket star Tilak Varma will not participate in the first three T20 internationals of the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand. He recently underwent surgery for an abdominal condition in Rajkot on Wednesday.

Series Schedule

The Indian team is set to face the Black Caps in a series comprising three ODIs and five T20Is. The ODI matches will commence on January 11, followed by the T20 series starting on January 21.

Recovery Process

Varma was released from the hospital on Thursday morning and is expected to return to Hyderabad on Friday. His condition is stable, and he is making good progress. He will begin physical training and gradually engage in skill-based activities once his symptoms have subsided and his surgical site has healed adequately. His participation in the remaining two matches will be evaluated based on his recovery during the training and skill phases.

Varma's T20I Achievements

Over the past year, Varma has emerged as a vital player for the Indian T20I team. He played a significant role in securing victory during the Asia Cup 2025, where he scored an unbeaten 69 runs in the final against Pakistan.

At just 23 years old, Varma made his T20I debut against the West Indies in August 2023. Since then, he has participated in 40 matches and 37 innings, accumulating 1,183 runs with an impressive average of 49.29 and a strike rate of 144.09. His record includes two centuries and six half-centuries.

Upcoming T20I Matches

The five T20 internationals between India and New Zealand will take place in Nagpur, Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram. This series will serve as preparation for both teams ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will be hosted in India and Sri Lanka.