NEW DELHI: In an encouraging development for India ahead of the T20 World Cup next month, India’s reliable T20I batsman Tilak Varma is close to being cleared by the BCCI Center of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.Tilak is expected to be released after taking part in a mock match on Friday. The left-handed batsman is recovering from abdominal surgery and training for the CoE. He was initially expected to join the Indian squad for the last two T20Is against New Zealand, but the team management asked his replacement, Shreyas Iyer, to remain in the squad.
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The BCCI said Tilak will join the Indian squad in Mumbai on February 3, subject to regaining full match fitness, ahead of India’s World Cup warm-up.Fast bowler Mayank Yadav also regained full bowling fitness after spending almost a year with a fractured lower back. The 23-year-old is expected to make a comeback with India A during the T20 World Cup warm-up matches. Mayank impressed with his pace during IPL 2024 and earned a T20I call-up, but he appeared in only two competitive matches in the 2025 season due to injury. Despite his fitness issues, Lucknow Super Giants retained him for the 2026 IPL season.Riyan Parag, ruled out with a right shoulder injury, is also likely to be cleared after Friday’s simulation match at the CoE.Meanwhile, Washington Sundar is yet to play a mock game, which should be scheduled soon. The 26-year-old was ruled out after suffering acute discomfort in his lower ribs while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara on January 11. He was subsequently dropped from the rest of the ODI series and the ongoing T20I series.
