Shreyas Iyer, who was drafted in as a stop-gap option for the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand due to Tilak Varma’s unavailability, has now been retained for the remainder of the five-match series. The batter will travel with the squad to Visakhapatnam and then to Thiruvananthapuram for the final two fixtures, reports Live Cricket Score.
Iyer was originally named as Tilak’s replacement only for the first three matches. However, his continued presence with the team effectively confirmed that Tilak would not feature again in the series—a development the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) formally announced on Monday.
“Tilak Varma has resumed physical training and is making steady progress with his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. However, he will require additional time to regain full match fitness and will not be available for the final two T20Is of the ongoing five-match T20I series,” the BCCI said in a statement. “Tilak will link up with the squad in Mumbai once he has regained full match fitness on February 3, ahead of India’s warm-up match for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.”
A source close to the player added that Tilak is considered a “sure bet” to be fit in time for the World Cup.
Despite being retained, Iyer—India’s vice-captain in ODIs—is yet to break into the playing XI in the current series. He last featured in a T20I in December 2023.
Meanwhile, uncertainty continues to surround Washington Sundar’s availability for the T20 World Cup. The allrounder was ruled out of the T20I series after sustaining an injury during the first ODI against New Zealand in Baroda. Sundar reported acute discomfort in his lower rib area while bowling on January 11, following which scans were conducted.
“He subsequently had an in-person consultation with an expert and has been diagnosed with a side strain,” the BCCI had said earlier while naming Ravi Bishnoi as his replacement for the T20Is. “He has been advised rest for a few days, after which he will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for further management of his injury.”
Sources close to Sundar suggest there is a possibility he could join the World Cup squad at a later stage, though that will depend entirely on the fitness report from the Centre of Excellence.
Bishnoi, who has represented India in 43 T20Is, made a timely return to the playing XI in Sunday’s match in Guwahati after nearly a year away from the side. He made an immediate impact, finishing with figures of 2 for 18 from four overs. If Sundar fails to recover in time, Bishnoi is expected to remain firmly in the selectors’ plans for the T20 World Cup.
