New Delhi: Tilak Varma has been included in India A’s squad for their warm-up match against USA after recovering from his injury. The star batter, who is part of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad, missed the recently concluded five-match T20I series against New Zealand at home after undergoing testicular surgery last month.
Tilak suffered a testicular injury during the Ranji Trophy last month, following which he was ruled out of the T20I series against New Zealand. In his absence, Ishan Kishan played for India at no.3 in the series against the Kiwis and continued his red-hot form to stake a claim for a permanent spot in the playing XI ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Tilak was included as the BCCI announced India A’s squad for their warm-up matches against USA and Namibia. BCCI confirmed that the left-hander will only play the warm-up game against USA before joining the senior Indian squad for their preparations ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. Tilak is part of India’s T20 World Cup squad.
Presenting India A squad for the warm-up matches ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. India A will play two warm-up matches against USA and Namibia.
🙌Note: Tilak Varma will feature in one warm-up match before joining #TeamIndia for the #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/LIVpMvI6v6
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 2, 2026
Tilak last featured for India in the T20I series against South Africa in December last year. He picked up an injury while playing for Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy last month and was sidelined from action. The left-hander is India’s designated no.3 in T20Is and will be looking to get much-needed game time with India A ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Tilak is a vital cog in India’s batting line-up for the showpiece event. He has so far notched up 1183 runs in 37 innings for India in T20Is, and has been consistent at no.3. He was recently cleared by the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) to return to action after recovering from his injury.
Ayush Badoni to lead India A
Delhi batter Ayush Badoni will lead India A in their two warm-up matches against USA and Namibia before the T20 World Cup. Badoni recently earned his maiden India call up in the ODI series against New Zealand after an injury to all-rounder Washington Sundar.
The India A squad consists of some of the prominent names from the IPL, including the likes of Riyan Parag, Khaleel Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi and Mayank Yadav. Explosive wicket-keeper batter Urvil Patel has also been included in the side alongside the likes of Naman Dhir and Ashutosh Sharma.