Tilak Varma Cleared to Play Warm-Up Matches Ahead of 2026 T20 World Cup

India batter Tilak Varma has been cleared by the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) to return to competitive action and will feature in two warm-up matches ahead of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The left-hander had been sidelined for nearly a month following testicular surgery after sustaining an injury during the Ranji Trophy in January.

Tilak is set to make his comeback on February 2, when he turns out for an India A side against USA at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. He will then play India’s official warm-up fixture against South Africa on February 4. India begin their T20 World Cup campaign against USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

The 22-year-old missed the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, with Ishan Kishan slotting in at No. 3 in Tilak’s absence in all but one match. Following his surgery, Tilak had been undergoing rehabilitation at the CoE, with the BCCI stating on January 26 that he was making “steady progress” in his recovery.

Allrounder Washington Sundar was the other notable absentee from the New Zealand series and is expected to undergo a fitness test in the coming days. Meanwhile, Riyan Parag, who has been out of action for nearly two months due to a shoulder injury, will also return during the warm-up phase. Parag is scheduled to play both of India A’s preparatory matches, including one against Namibia on February 6 at the CoE in Bengaluru.

India have been drawn in Group A of the 2026 T20 World Cup. After their opener against USA in Mumbai on February 7, they will face Namibia on February 12 in Delhi, Pakistan on February 15 in Colombo, and the Netherlands on February 18 in Ahmedabad.