Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 8: Asia Cup final hero and middle-order batter Tilak Varma has suffered an abdomen injury and is likely to be ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, beginning January 21 in Nagpur. He has been advised surgery, raising concerns over his immediate availability, though the Indian team management is more focused on his fitness for the forthcoming T20 World Cup starting February 7.

Tilak sustained the injury while representing Rajkot in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. According to sources, he complained of severe abdominal pain after breakfast on Wednesday and was immediately taken to a local hospital, where scans were conducted. The medical reports were subsequently forwarded to doctors at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru.

“Doctors have advised surgery, and the recovery period is expected to be around three to four weeks. His participation in the New Zealand T20I series looks unlikely,” a senior BCCI source confirmed.

With Tilak’s absence appearing imminent, the selection committee is expected to name a replacement. However, Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, who was not picked for the New Zealand series or the T20 World Cup squad, is unlikely to be recalled. Sources indicated that the team management is not keen on having the senior batter on the bench, especially with uncertainty over Tilak’s return later in the series. Assam all-rounder Riyan Parag could emerge as a strong contender, provided he fully recovers from a shoulder injury.

Meanwhile, India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has been declared match fit by the COE medical team. Iyer recently featured for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring a brisk 82 off 53 balls against Himachal Pradesh in Jaipur. He showed no signs of discomfort following a spleen laceration sustained during the Australia tour and has now been cleared to return to international action.

Iyer, whose selection for the ODI squad was subject to fitness clearance, will play his first ODI since the match against Australia at the SCG in August. His Mumbai and India teammate Yashasvi Jaiswal will skip Mumbai’s final league match to join the national squad in Vadodara.

Baroda all-rounder Hardik Pandya, meanwhile, will feature in his team’s final Vijay Hazare Trophy league match against Chandigarh. Pandya, who recently smashed a scintillating 133 against Vidarbha, was rested from the New Zealand series to manage workload ahead of the T20 World Cup. The COE has also not cleared him to bowl a full 10-over spell yet.