Tilak Varma to miss at least two T20Is against NZ

Batter Tilak Varma is set to miss at least the opening two matches of India’s T20I series against New Zealand, beginning on January 21, due to a groin injury.

The Hindu understands that the Hyderabad left-hander underwent a minor procedure after complaining of pain in the groin region. The 23-year-old was treated at a private hospital in Rajkot, where he was participating in the Vijay Hazare Trophy group phase.

“Tilak complained of some pain in the groin and was taken to the hospital for scans. The necessary treatment has been provided, but the recovery period could force him to miss two matches of the upcoming T20I series,” a team source confirmed.

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, set to kickstart on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. Tilak, who was India’s hero in the Asia Cup 2025 final triumph over arch-rival Pakistan, is set to miss the matches in Nagpur and Raipur. His participation in the remaining three games will be decided based on his recovery progress.