Tilak Varma is set to rejoin the Indian squad on February 3, 2026, as per an official BCCI statement released on Monday, January 26. This timeline is crucial: if Varma proves his fitness between his return and February 7—the opening day of the T20 World Cup 2026—he is almost certain to feature in India’s final XI.
“Tilak Varma has resumed physical training and is making steady progress with his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. However, he will require additional time to regain full match fitness,” the BCCI stated.
This news has intensified the pressure on Sanju Samson, whose career has often been defined by the “in-and-out” narrative. To make matters worse, while Samson has struggled in the first three T20Is against New Zealand, Ishan Kishan—playing in Varma’s absence—has been nothing short of exceptional.
What does the latest announcement on Tilak Varma mean?
Tilak, who missed the first three matches of the New Zealand series, will remain on the sidelines for the final two T20Is in Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram. Shreyas Iyer, drafted in as cover, will continue with the squad. With India leading 3-0 and the series already secured, Iyer is expected to get a look-in as the team management tests its bench strength before the World Cup.
The Wicketkeeper-Batter Conundrum: Samson vs. Kishan
The numbers tell a grim story for Samson. His scores in the first three T20Is—10, 6, and a golden duck (0)—contrast sharply with Ishan Kishan’s impact. Kishan, the Jharkhand captain who led his state to a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title earlier this season, has returned scores of 8, 76, and 28. In both the second and third T20Is, Kishan acted as the primary aggressor, helping India chase down targets in record time.
The sword of elimination now hangs over Samson. In a unit as competitive as this Indian side, three consecutive failures are costly. He must perform to his optimum potential in the next two games to justify his place in the playing XI for the World Cup.
Tilak Varma was in peak form before his injury, notably smashing two fifties against South Africa. If fit, he is a “lock” for the middle order. This leaves India with a choice between Samson and Kishan for the keeper-opener role. With the clock ticking toward February 7, the momentum is firmly with Ishan Kishan.
India’s Updated T20I Squad (Remaining 2 T20Is vs NZ): Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (VC), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (WK), Ravi Bishnoi.