Shreyas Iyer will remain part of India’s T20I squad for the remaining two matches against New Zealand, with Tilak Varma still not fully fit after surgery.
Tilak recently underwent abdominal surgery and has begun rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. While his recovery is moving in the right direction, the left-hander is not yet match-ready.
The Indian team management has decided not to rush Tilak back, keeping the long-term picture in mind. With the T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, India want to avoid taking risks with player fitness.
Tilak Varma is expected to rejoin the squad on February 3, provided he regains full fitness before India’s warm-up match ahead of the T20 World Cup. Until then, Iyer will continue to offer experience and balance in the middle order.
Iyer was initially brought in as cover after Tilak’s surgery. His retention now gives India a settled batting option as they look to carry momentum through the five-match series against New Zealand.
The 29-year-old adds calmness and stability in the middle overs, an area India are keen to lock down before the global event next year. His presence also allows the team to manage workloads of other batters during a busy international season.
The decision underlines India’s cautious approach to injury management. With several key players returning from or managing injuries, the focus remains on long-term readiness rather than short-term gains.
India have already shown strong form in the series and the think tank believes continuity will help maintain rhythm going into the final matches.
Updated India T20I squad:
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (VC), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (WK), Ravi Bishnoi.