Tilak Varma Likely to Miss India’s T20I Series Against New Zealand
India batter recovering well after emergency operation; World Cup availability under watch
India, Jan 08 : India batter Tilak Varma is likely to miss at least the first two matches of the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand after undergoing emergency surgery in Rajkot.
The 23 year old, who was named in India’s T20I squad for the series starting January 21, was rushed to hospital on Wednesday morning after complaining of severe abdominal pain following breakfast. Varma was in Rajkot to represent Hyderabad in their final Vijay Hazare Trophy league-stage match against Jammu & Kashmir at the Niranjan Shah Stadium.
Medical scans revealed the need for immediate surgical intervention. After consultations with doctors at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, Varma underwent a successful operation at a super-specialty hospital in Rajkot. Sources said he is recovering well and could be discharged shortly, subject to medical clearance.
“It was a very emergency situation given the intensity of the pain. Thankfully, the surgery went smoothly. His availability for the T20 World Cup will be clearer in the next one or two days,” a source said.
A senior sports medicine expert explained that such cases involve acute pain as the affected structure is highly innervated and can twist, cutting off blood supply if not treated promptly.
The development has raised concerns over Varma’s availability for the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7. India are scheduled to open their campaign against the United States of America at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Tilak Varma has been a crucial part of India’s T20I plans, scoring 1,183 runs in 37 innings at an impressive average of 49.29 and a strike rate of 144.09, including two centuries and six half-centuries. In his absence, captain Suryakumar Yadav could move up the order, while Shreyas Iyer may emerge as a contender for a spot in the squad.
The BCCI has not yet issued an official update on Varma’s recovery or named a replacement for the New Zealand series, which begins in Nagpur on January 21.
