T20 World Cup 2026: 3 players who could replace Tilak Varma
Tilak Varma's future in the T20 World Cup 2026 is uncertain, as he underwent major surgery. It is learnt that the batter went through a ‘testicular torsion’ surgery.

Tilak Varma's future in the T20 World Cup 2026 is uncertain, as he underwent major surgery. It is learnt that the batter went through a ‘testicular torsion’ surgery. Keeping the importance of the surgery in mind, it is reported that he could miss the entire India vs New Zealand series, which will start on January 11. After that, from next month, India will be in the title race for the T20 World Cup. Varma is in India's WC squad. It is expected to see him during the elite tournament despite the surgery. As of now, he can take one to four weeks to recover. But, if he is unable to recover within the time, then who can be the suitable replacement for him in the WC squad? Here are 3 players who have the potential to replace Tilak Varma.
3 players who could replace Tilak Varma:
1. Shreyas Iyer: Shreyas Iyer is a proven name in the T20 format and on the international stage. In the IPL 2025, he performed steadily for Punjab Kings (PBKS) with the bat. Iyer, who has reportedly recovered from a rib injury, is ready to represent India again. He was in fine touch during a Vijay Hazare trophy for Mumbai. Like Varma, Iyer is also a middle-order batter.
2. Shubman Gill: Another proven talent in the limited-overs format who is omitted from the T20I squad by the selectors. In the India vs South Africa T20I series, Gill was the vice-captain of Team India. He has all the potential to be a part of the T20 World Cup squad.
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3. Ruturaj Gaikwad: With strong domestic and T20 credentials, he could easily plug in as the replacement of Tilak Varma. Gaikwad got his maiden ODI century during a recent match against South Africa.
Current India squad for T20 World Cup 2026: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Rinku Singh.
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