Shreyas Iyer tipped for T20I recall

Shreyas Iyer has surfaced as a potential successor in the interim. Iyer, who recently recovered from an injury, can be selected to cover for the Hyderabad player in India’s Twenty20 International team. The Mumbai batsman has been the front-runner to succeed Tilak, even if it is not official. This might be his first return to the T20I team in over three years. Interestingly, he last played for the side in the game’s shortest format in December 2023.

Tilak Varma, an Indian middle-order batsman, may miss the forthcoming five-match Twenty20 International series against New Zealand due to testicular torsion surgery. Tilak’s return to the pitch will require at least four weeks of rehabilitation, which has also cast question on him ahead of the T20 World Cup, which begins on January 7.

Shreyas Iyer is getting closer to making a spectacular return.

Shreyas Iyer exclusion from the T20I team has generated a lot of talk, particularly after the batter helped Punjab Kings to the final IPL 2025 and scored 583 runs during the season. A number of cricket commentators also mentioned tales of selectors showing partiality in the face of Shreyas Iyer ongoing ignorance. But it appears that the 31-year-old’s turn has finally come, as he might be selected for the World Cup as well, where the Men in Blue will be defending their championship.

Shreyas Iyer undertook extensive rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru when he recovered from his spleen ailment sustained during the 2025 tour of Australia. In addition to being busy leading Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he was already included in the ODI squad against the BlackCaps. Before the medical staff makes a definitive evaluation of his injuries, he is anticipated to lead the team for a few rounds.

Tilak will undoubtedly be unable to make the group for the five-match assignment, which includes the first Twenty20 International against New Zealand scheduled for January 21 in Nagpur. It is anticipated that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will shortly appoint his replacement. In the meantime, India, the co-hosts of the T20 World Cup 2026, will play the United States of America in their opening group stage encounter on February 7.

Schedule for the 2026 India vs. New Zealand T20I series