Tilak Varma set to rejoin India squad after clearance; Washington Sundar’s fitness under scanner

India have been handed a significant boost ahead of next month’s T20 World Cup, as Tilak Varma is close to returning to action. The young batter is on the verge of receiving clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru during the ongoing five-match home T20I series against New Zealand.

Tilak Varma is still recovering from surgery, and his comeback has been delayed. He was expected to feature in the last two T20Is against New Zealand but has been ruled out of the home series. The left-handed batter last played earlier this month, representing Hyderabad against Bengal in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Tilak Varma Nears Clearance After Simulation Match at BCCI’s CoE

According to a Times of India report, Tilak Varma is close to making his return as he continues to recover from abdominal surgery. He is currently training at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The left-handed batter is scheduled to play a simulation match on Friday.

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The medical team is expected to give him clearance. Tilak was earlier expected to join the Indian squad for the fourth and fifth T20Is against New Zealand. However, his recovery took longer than planned.

The Hyderabad batter is expected to join the Indian squad on February 3 in Mumbai, provided he regains full match fitness. He is likely to join four days before the World Cup begins and play India’s warm-up match for the tournament.

Tilak Varma Expected to Slot Back Straight Into the Playing XI

Tilak Varma is expected to return to India’s playing XI when the Men in Blue begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on February 7. He is currently the third-ranked batter in the ICC men’s T20I batting rankings. The 23-year-old has scored 1,183 runs in 40 T20Is at an average of 49.49 and a strike rate of 144.09.

Varma has smashed two centuries and five half-centuries. He made his T20I debut against the West Indies in August 2023 and has quickly become a reliable presence in India’s middle order. In the Asia Cup 2025 final, he remained unbeaten on 69 off 53 balls as India chased down a target of 147.

India will head into the T20 World Cup 2026 as defending champions after defeating South Africa in the 2024 final to lift their second title. Suryakumar Yadav and his team now aim to become the first side to both defend the trophy and win it at home.

The tournament will start on February 7 and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. India have been placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, the United States of America, Namibia, and the Netherlands.

Washington Sundar Yet to Play Simulation Match After Rib Injury

Washington Sundar has not yet taken part in a simulation match. The 26-year-old suffered discomfort in his lower rib area while bowling in the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara. Following the injury, he was ruled out of the rest of the ODI series as well as the ongoing T20I series.

Sundar has already resumed batting during training sessions and is likely to begin bowling again in the coming days. India are closely monitoring his progress because Sundar is the only off-spinner in the T20 World Cup squad.

It remains unclear whether he will be fit in time for India’s match against the United States of America or the second group fixture against Namibia. The team management believes he can play an important role in the later stages of the tournament.

Also read: "Dua kar sakte hain": Pakistan batter's hilarious 'strategy' to stop India's batting lineup in T20 World Cup