India has suffered a big setback ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Middle-order batter Tilak Verma has undergone surgery and has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. His availability for the T20 World Cup next month is also now in doubt.

The 23-year-old left-hander picked up an abdominal injury that is expected to keep him out for three to four weeks. Tilak was in Rajkot playing for Hyderabad in the Vijay Hazare Trophy when he suddenly felt severe testicular pain on Wednesday.

He was immediately taken to Gokul Hospital, where scans confirmed testicular torsion. Doctors advised urgent surgery, which Tilak underwent successfully on Wednesday. According to Saurashtra Cricket Association president Jaydev Shah, who has been monitoring his treatment, Tilak is doing well and will be discharged from the hospital on Thursday.

Tilak was expected to be part of India’s T20I series against New Zealand, which begins on January 21 in Nagpur. With him ruled out, India is likely to name a replacement for the series. His injury could give India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer a chance to return to the T20 side. However, India’s Test and ODI captain, Shubman Gill, is unlikely to be considered.

5 players who can replace Tilak Verma in India’s T20I team

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant can be considered as a replacement for Tilak Verma even though India already has Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson as wicketkeepers. Pant can play purely as a batsman. He has not had great numbers in T20Is, but he is known as one of the fastest scorers in Indian cricket. Pant was part of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup–winning team. He has scored 5291 runs at a strike rate of 144.40. He can bat at number three and can also finish innings depending on team needs. He is currently the vice-captain of India’s Test team.

Devdutt Padikkal

Devdutt Padikkal has been in very strong form in domestic cricket across formats. Playing for Karnataka, he has scored 620 runs in just 7 innings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at an average of 91.42. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he scored 309 runs in 6 matches with a strike rate of 167.02. Because of this form and his ability to bat left-handed, selectors may see him as a direct replacement option for the injured Tilak in the series against New Zealand.

Travel Giikwad

Ruturaj Gaikwad is another strong option after good performances in domestic cricket for Maharashtra. The 28-year-old has already shown he can perform at the international level. Although he is mainly an opener, he has also batted lower down the order in the IPL for the Chennai Super Kings. Gaikwad was dropped from India’s ODI squad against New Zealand despite doing well in the recent series against South Africa. Tilak Verma’s injury could give him a chance to return to the T20I squad.

Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer is one of the biggest names who could make a comeback. He has been declared fit and returned to action with an impressive 82 off 53 balls for Mumbai against Himachal Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26. He last played a T20I in December 2023 and has not been in the selectors’ plans recently for this format. However, Tilak’s injury could open the door for his return to the T20I team.

Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill is another option who could replace Tilak Verma for the ICC event. He was surprisingly dropped from the T20 World Cup squad even though he was the vice-captain of the T20I team. After his exclusion, the selectors named a new vice-captain and left Gill out. Gill began his T20 career as a middle-order batter and is capable of batting in the middle order when required. Since making his T20 debut in 2018, the right-handed batter has scored 5412 runs in 175 T20 matches.

FAQs

Q. What happened to Tilak Verma?

A. Tilak Verma has undergone surgery after suffering a serious abdominal injury. He has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand.

Q. What injury did Tilak Verma suffer?

A. Tilak suffered from testicular torsion while playing for Hyderabad in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Rajkot.

Q. Will Tilak Verma play in the T20I series against New Zealand?

A. No, Tilak has been ruled out of the T20I series against New Zealand, which begins on January 21 in Nagpur.

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