IND vs NZ: Tilak Verma To Miss First Three T20Is As BCCI Issues Injury Update

New Delhi: Indian batter Tilak Varma has been ruled out of the first three T20Is of the upcoming five-match series against New Zealand as the BCCI confirmed the update on the 'X' handle. The board stated that Tilak will miss the first three matches of the series and his presence in the last two matches will depend on his progress in the return-to-training and skill phases. No specific date of his return or the nature of the injury was revealed in the statement issued by the BCCI.

The release mentioned that he underwent surgery for an abdominal issue and is progressing well.

"India batter Tilak Varma underwent surgery for an abdominal issue in Rajkot on Wednesday, 7 January. He was discharged from the hospital on Thursday morning and is scheduled to fly back to Hyderabad on Friday. He is currently stable and progressing well," the release stated.

"Tilak will resume physical training and gradually return to skill-based activities once his symptoms have fully resolved and wound healing is satisfactory."

Tilak's absence will mean that India will lack a well-settled left-handed batting option in the middle order. He has shown the capability to bat at different positions, along with providing stability to the innings and also switching gears.

The five-match T20I series against New Zealand will start from January 21 in Nagpur. The second match will be played on January 23 in Raipur and January 25 in Guwahati. Now, the lack of clarity around Tilak's return will compell the Indian team to reasess their combinations in the first three matches and also for the World Cup fixtures if Tilak misses out in the marquee tournament as well.

The last two fixtures of the series will be played in Visakhapatnam on January 28 and Thiruvananthapuram on January 31. After the series against New Zealand, India will start their campaign in the T20 World Cup on February 7 against the USA.

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