By Khabar Rojana 
Asia Cup final hero and dependable middle-order batter Tilak Varma has suffered an abdominal injury that could rule him out of the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. While India is expected to name a replacement for the series starting on January 21 in Nagpur, Shubman Gill is unlikely to be considered despite his stature as India’s Test and ODI captain.
Tilak was in Rajkot participating in the Vijay Hazare Trophy when he experienced severe abdominal pain after breakfast on Wednesday morning. He was immediately taken to a local hospital, where scans were conducted and medical reports were shared with specialists at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for further evaluation.
According to sources within the cricket board, doctors have advised Tilak to undergo surgery, which could require a recovery period of three to four weeks. As a result, his chances of featuring in the entire T20I series against New Zealand appear slim. The injury has also raised concerns over his availability for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7, with India scheduled to play their opening match against the USA on the same day.
The selection of Tilak’s replacement remains an interesting question. Gill, who was not selected for the New Zealand series and the World Cup squad, is not seen as a likely option. The team management and selectors reportedly believe it would be impractical to have the national captain in Tests and ODIs sit on the bench or serve as a reserve player. Additionally, recalling him could create selection complications if Tilak makes a quicker-than-expected recovery and becomes available later in the series.
A more probable replacement could be Assam all-rounder Riyan Parag, provided he fully recovers from a shoulder injury and meets fitness requirements ahead of the series.
Shalu Shalu