Mumbai: India’s Tilak Verma is heading into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup without playing a single T20 match this year. The 23-year-old is coming back from testicular surgery and has been given extra time to regain full match fitness.
Thilak is expected to join the Indian squad in Mumbai on February 3, having missed the T20Is against New Zealand. He was initially ruled out for only the first three matches.
Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer, who was not included in India’s World Cup squad, will continue in the squad till the end of the bilateral series.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday provided an update on Tilak Verma’s recovery outlining his current fitness and ongoing rehabilitation.
“Tilak has resumed physical training and is making steady progress through his rehabilitation at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru. However, he will need more time to regain full match fitness.”
Tilak recently cemented his place in India’s fluid batting line-up, playing a key role in India’s Asia Cup lift. He also became the highest run-scorer in T20Is against South Africa in December.
His absence created an opening for another World Cup squad member, Ishan Kishan, who impressed with his aggressive batting.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav praised Kishan’s 32-ball 76 as India slumped to a 6-2 defeat against New Zealand.
Other top-order options for India include Abhishek Sharma, who scored India’s second-fastest T20I fifty on Sunday.
In contrast, Sanju Samson recently scored just 16 runs in his last three innings.
India will play a T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai on February 4, where Thilak is expected to make a comeback.
There is no update on Washington Sundar, who picked up a rib injury during the first ODI against New Zealand on January 11. Sundar is one of the four top spin options selected for the World Cup.
Teams can make squad changes until January 30; After that, any additions require the approval of the ICC Event Technical Committee.
India A will train the teams for the T20 World Cup against USA in Navi Mumbai on February 2 and Namibia in Bengaluru on February 6.
Ryan Barrack, who is managing a right shoulder injury, has been cleared by BCCI’s Center of Excellence and could feature in these games.
India’s updated T20I squad for New Zealand series:
Suryakumar Yadav (catch), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (VK), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Akshar Patel (VC), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakraborty, Ishan Bishno (Ravishno)