A worrying news started January 8 as Tilak Varma, who played a couple of the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) games for Hyderabad, went through an emergency surgery in Rajkot after being diagnosed with testicular torsion. The Indian T20I star’s availability for the India vs New Zealand and the following T20 World Cup 2026 went up in the air. However now, a new development has come in, revealing that Tilak may, at maximum, miss the first half of the T20I series.
“Tilak complained of some pain in the groin and was taken to the hospital for scans. The necessary treatment has been provided, but the recovery period could force him to miss two matches of the upcoming T20I series,” a team source confirmed to Sportstar.
Tilak’s T20 World Cup hopes remain alive
The 23-year-old is now expected to miss only the opening two T20Is of the five-match series against New Zealand, scheduled in Nagpur and Raipur, with his availability for the remaining three matches to be assessed based on how his recovery progresses. Tilak underwent a minor procedure at a private hospital in Rajkot after experiencing pain in the groin region while representing Hyderabad in the Vijay Hazare Trophy group stage.
The initial reports of testicular torsion had raised doubts around both his immediate international commitments and his participation in the T20 World Cup beginning February 7. However, the latest update suggests the situation is far less severe than first feared, providing major relief to the Indian camp. With nearly a month to go before the World Cup, Tilak is now on track to be fully fit in time for the marquee tournament.
Tilak has been one of India’s most dependable T20 batters over the past year and was earmarked as the team’s designated No. 3 for the home World Cup. Even at the domestic level, he has continued his purple patch, scoring his sixth List A century in Hyderabad’s Group B clash earlier this week and finishing his short Vijay Hazare campaign with 143 runs from two innings at an average of 71.50.
India will now have to manage his workload carefully. The team management is unlikely to rush him back for the early games of the New Zealand series, keeping the larger World Cup picture in mind. With Tilak missing at least the first two matches, the door opens for Ishan Kishan to slot in at No.3. Suryakumar Yadav, who is in awful form, can be a perfect number three, while adding Rinku Singh would be easier now.
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