Shreyas Iyer to stay with India T20I team as Tilak Varma's return delayed

NEW DELHI: Shreyas Iyer will continue to be with India T20I team for the remaining two T20Is vs New Zealand as Tilak Varma's return to competitive cricket has been delayed. Iyer was initially picked for only the first three games but will now continue to be with the side for the remainder of the series.

TimesofIndia.com has learnt that while Tilak is pain free and on track to regain necessary clearances, the BCCI Centre of Excellence doesn't want to take any chance with the youngster before the T20 World Cup.



"He is pain free at the moment and making very good progress but the CoE wants him to be completely ready before giving him the green signal for the World Cup. The initial plan was to have him on the park for the fourth T20I. He could still be available for the final game but could well play from the preparation games in Mumbai," a BCCI official tells TimesofIndia.com.

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"Tilak was playing competitive cricket before he got injured so there is no issue in that. The selectors will only proceed when they get the RTP from CoE. There will be no chances taken for any player and that's why there is some delay in the initial timelines," adds the official.

The team management doesn't want to take any chances with the World Cup squad and wants to have backups ready.

"India batter 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," BCCI said in a press release.

"Tilak will link up with the squad in Mumbai once he has regained full match fitness on 3rd February, ahead of India’s warm-up match for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The Men’s Selection Committee has recommended that Shreyas Iyer will continue as Tilak Varma’s replacement for the remaining matches."

Iyer didn't play the first three games vs New Zealand and with delay in Tilak's return, it will be interesting to see whether the right-hander will be tried in the remaining two games.


Ishan Kishan got the nod ahead of Iyer at No.3 and the left-hander repaid the management's faith with a whirlwind knock in the second game and backed up with an attacking cameo in the third T20I in Guwahati on Sunday. Apart from Sanju Samson, India's batting is on firing on all cylinders as captain Suryakumar Yadav too has regained form with two back-to-back half-centuries in the ongoing series.

India are in red-hot form in the format and the think-tank now wants to ensure there are no injury-related headaches before getting their World Cup preps underway in Mumbai, where they play the tournament opener vs USA.


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