Tilak Varma to miss the first three T20Is against New Zealand

Batter Tilak Varma will miss the opening three matches of India’s T20I series against New Zealand, beginning on January 21, due to an abdominal issue.

A statement from the BCCI mentioned that the Hyderabad left-hander underwent a minor procedure after complaining of pain.

The 23-year-old player was treated at a private hospital in Rajkot, where he was participating in the Vijay Hazare Trophy group phase.

“Tilak complained of pain in the groin and was rushed to the hospital for scans.

“The necessary treatment has been provided, but the recovery period could force him to miss three games of the T20I series,” revealed a Hyderabad team source.

Tilak was part of the team for the two Group B encounters against Chandigarh and Bengal, scoring his sixth List-A hundred in the first game.

However, Hyderabad had already been out of the quarterfinal race by then.

New Zealand is touring India for a white-ball series ahead of the T20 World Cup which will begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.

Tilak, who was India’s hero in the Asia Cup 2025 final triumph over archrival Pakistan, has been ruled out of the Nagpur, Raipur and Guwahati T20Is against the Kiwis.

His participation in the remaining two games will be decided based on his recovery.