Shreyas Iyer will still be included in the Indian squad in the remainder of the India vs New Zealand T20I series since Tilak Varma was officially declared unfit because of a physical injury. Those who first chose Iyer to fill a temporary vacancy have now decided that he will join the team to Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram to complete the remaining two out of five games in the T20 series.

Shreyas Iyer was initially appointed as a replacement of Tilak Varma, only in the first three T20Is. But the fact that he was still travelling with the team was a clear indication that he would not come to the remaining matches. This was subsequently verified by the board of control of cricket in India BCCI.

BCCI in an official update said that Tilak Varma was back to physical training and recovering well at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. Although this has been improved, he requires time to have the full match fitness. Consequently, Tilak will not play the last two T20Is with New Zealand. The board had also said that he will meet with the squad in Mumbai on February 3, in the pre warm up match of India in the ICC Men T20 World Cup of 2026. The players around the player are still optimistic that Tilak will be in shape to play in the world cup.

Although he is still in the squad, Shreyas Iyer is still yet to appear in the playing XI in the ongoing T20I series. The last time the Indian ODI vice captain appeared in a T20 was in December 2023 and he remains patiently waiting.

In the meantime, it is still unclear if Washington Sundar will be available in the T20 World Cup 2026. Sundar was not included in the T20I series after he felt pain in the lower part of his ribs during his bowling against New Zealand in the first ODI in Vadodara, on January 11. Later medical examination through scans and consultation with a specialist proved that he had a side strain.

The BCCI informed that Sundar has been recommended to take some days off and then report to the Centre of Excellence to receive treatment further. Ravi Bishnoi took his place in the T20Is. The sources indicate that Sundar might be included in the India world cup team at a later date, however, his inclusion will solely be based on the fitness reports.

Ravi Bishnoi, who has already played 43 T20 matches, came back to the Indian team in the Guwahati match after almost a year. He gave good performances of 2/18 in four overs which improved his prospects. Unless Washington Sundar recovers in time, the selectors will most likely keep supporting Bishnoi to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.