Before the start of the India-New Zealand series, Team India has suffered a big setback. Young batsman Tilak Verma has been dropped from the first three matches of the five-match T20 series.
However, it is a matter of relief that Tilak was discharged from the hospital on Thursday morning and his condition is now stable. He will return to Hyderabad on Friday. According to the BCCI, after the symptoms are completely resolved and the wound heals, Tilak will first start physical training and then gradually return to practicing his skills. At present it is certain that he will not be able to play the first three T20 matches against New Zealand. His availability for the last two matches will depend on how fast his recovery and training progresses.
What is Tilak Verma’s problem?
Tilak Verma’s exclusion has become a big concern not only for the series but also for India’s World Cup mission. Tilak, the hero of the Asia Cup 2025 final and a reliable middle order batsman, has been injured at a time when less than a month is left for the World Cup.
Had to undergo surgery after stomach ache
The 23-year-old left-handed batsman was playing for Hyderabad in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Rajkot when he suddenly felt severe pain. He was immediately taken to Gokul Hospital, where tests confirmed testicular torsion. Doctors immediately advised surgery, which was successful. Now Tilak is moving rapidly towards recovery.
In the last one year, Tilak Verma has become an important part of India’s T20 set-up. Fans still remember his unbeaten inning of 69 runs against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final.
Relief from Shreyas Iyer
Meanwhile, the good news for Team India is that ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has been declared completely fit by the medical team of the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he played a brilliant inning of 82 runs in 53 balls against Himachal Pradesh. He suffered a spleen injury during the Australia tour, but is now completely fit.
india vs new zealand schedule
- January 11: 1st ODI – Vadodara
- 14 January: 2nd ODI – Rajkot
- 18 January: 3rd ODI – Indore
- 21 January: 1st T20 – Nagpur
- 23 January: 2nd T20 – Raipur
- 25 January: 3rd T20 – Guwahati
- 28 January: 4th T20 – Visakhapatnam
- 31 January: 5th T20 – Thiruvananthapuram
Indian team for New Zealand series
Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Axar Patel (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Verma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakraborty, Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana and Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper).