Tilak Varma ruled out of remainder of T20Is; Shreyas Iyer retained

Tilak Varma has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20I series against New Zealand. Shreyas Iyer, who was drafted in as a temporary replacement, has been retained in the squad for the rest of the series and will travel for the final two games.

Tilak underwent surgery earlier this month and is expected to be fit for the World Cup starting on February 7. He is currently at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for rehabilitation. The BCCI stated he will require additional time to regain full match fitness and will join the squad in Mumbai on February 3, ahead of India's warm-up match.

A source close to Tilak said he is a "sure bet" to be available for the World Cup.

Iyer, the vice-captain in ODIs, is yet to feature in the playing XI in the ongoing series and has not played a T20I since December 2023.

Meanwhile, it is still not clear if Washington Sundar will be available for the T20 World Cup. He was ruled out of the T20Is after reporting discomfort in his lower rib area while bowling on January 11.

The BCCI said, "He has been diagnosed with a side strain and has been advised rest for a few days, following which he will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for further management of his injury." Ravi Bishnoi was named as his replacement for the T20Is.

Bishnoi, who has played 43 T20Is, returned to the XI for Sunday's fixture in Guwahati after almost a year, taking two for 18 in four overs. It is likely the selectors will persist with him for the World Cup if Sundar is ruled out.