Shreyas Iyer will remain a part of the Indian team for the remaining matches of the ongoing T20 series against New Zealand. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Confirmed on Tuesday. The update comes as Tilak Verma is recovering from injury and is now expected to rejoin the national team ahead of India’s warm-up matches for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
India is already Captured the five-match T20 series with a strong 3-0 leadBut the team management has opted to maintain continuity in the squad as preparations gather pace for the global event starting on February 7.
BCCI confirms Tilak Verma’s gradual recovery plan
In an official statement, the BCCI provided clarity on Tilak’s rehabilitation timeline, confirming that the left-handed batsman is making steady progress at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru. However, the board acknowledged that Tilak needed additional time to regain full match fitness.
“Tilak Verma is making steady progress with his rehabilitation at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru,” Read the statement. “However, he will require additional time to regain full match fitness and will not be available for the final two T20Is of the ongoing IDFC First Bank five-match T20I series.”
The board further said that Tilak is scheduled to join the Indian team in Mumbai on February 3 after he fully recovers for the team’s practice match ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Selection committee favors Shreyas Iyer as replacement
With Tilak unavailable for the remainder of the series, the men’s selection committee has recommended Shreyas Iyer continues as his replacement. Although Iyer has not featured in any matches so far, his presence provides depth and experience as India manage the workload and finalize the combinations.
Despite being named in the squad, Iyer had to wait for an opportunity, as India preferred to test other options after winning the series early. The decision reflects the team’s broader strategy to balance preparation with experimentation ahead of a major tournament.
India’s team management has instead opted to give extended opportunities to Ishan Kishan, who has returned to international cricket after almost two years. As part of India’s future plans for the World Cup, Ishan has been given a chance in the batting order.
Explaining the decision before the start of the series, India captain Suryakumar Yadav said the move was based on fairness and long-term planning. “We picked him first for the World Cup squad, so it’s only fair that he gets his chance first. He also hasn’t played for India for a long time. He deserves to play further.” Suryakumar had said.
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The shock of injury and the race against time for the tilak
Tilak Verma suffered an abdominal injury while representing his state in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. At the time, medical advice suggested surgery, which effectively ruled him out of the T20I series against New Zealand and raised concerns about his availability for the T20 World Cup.
The injury turned his recovery into a race against time, but the latest update from BCCI suggests cautious optimism. By delaying his return until he is fully fit, India are keen to avoid any risks ahead of a challenging tournament.
Indian squad updated for remaining T20 series against New Zealand
Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shivam Dubey, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakraborty, Axar Patel, Shreyas Iyer.
Also read: New Zealand players check Abhishek Sharma’s bat after Guwahati attack – IND vs NZ, 3rd T20I
