India's rising cricket star, Tilak Varma, has been ruled out of the first three matches of the upcoming T20 International series against New Zealand. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) provided a crucial medical update on the young batter's condition on Thursday, January 8.
Surgery and Current Health Status
The 23-year-old left-handed batsman underwent a successful surgical procedure for an abdominal problem in Rajkot on January 7. Medical reports indicate that the surgery went smoothly, and Varma was discharged from the hospital the very next morning. The BCCI, in its official statement, confirmed that the player is currently stable and his recovery is progressing well.
Following his discharge, Tilak Varma is scheduled to travel back to his home city of Hyderabad. There, he will continue the essential rest and rehabilitation phase under medical supervision.
BCCI's Statement on Recovery Protocol
The national cricket board outlined a careful, phased approach for Varma's return to the game. Their statement detailed that the promising batter will resume physical training first. He will only begin skill-based cricket activities, like batting and fielding drills, after his symptoms have completely subsided and his surgical wound has healed satisfactorily.
The BCCI was clear about his immediate unavailability, stating, "Tilak is ruled out of the first three T20Is against New Zealand." This decision prioritizes the player's long-term fitness over short-term selection.
Uncertainty Over Later Matches
While his absence from the initial part of the series is confirmed, a glimmer of hope remains for his participation in the later stages. The board added that his availability for the final two T20I matches will be reassessed. This assessment will depend entirely on how he responds during the return-to-training and skill-based phases of his rehabilitation program.
This setback comes as a disappointment for fans and team management alike, as Varma has been marked as a key talent for India's future in the shortest format of the game. The team will now have to reconfigure its middle-order plans for the high-profile series against the Black Caps.
