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Shreyas Iyer’s unexpected return to India’s T20I squad was always meant to be a temporary fix, and it seems his time there won’t last much longer. Tilak Varma, who’s been earmarked as India’s No.3 in T20Is, is nearing full fitness and could be ready to play before the New Zealand series wraps up, which would likely dash Iyer’s hopes for the World Cup, if he had any to begin with. 

Tilak, who had surgery for an abdominal issue in Rajkot earlier this month, is set to arrive at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) today (January 20) for a thorough fitness evaluation. According to the Times of India, he’s feeling pain-free and has already started some light training.

If he passes the final tests, he could be back in action for the fourth T20I in Visakhapatnam on January 28. Iyer stepped in for Tilak during the first three T20Is, while Ravi Bishnoi joined the squad after Washington Sundar was sidelined with a side strain. 

The 23-year-old has been a key player in India’s revamped T20 lineup. In 2025, he racked up 567 runs in 18 innings, boasting an impressive average of 47.25 and a strike rate of 129.15, making him a strong contender for the T20 World Cup 2026.

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Only Abhishek Sharma (859) outperformed Tilak in T20I runs for India in 2025. His absence led the selectors to bring in Iyer for the first three matches, but Iyer was never really part of the long-term T20 strategy. While he probably should have been, that’s a whole other discussion. 

When Tilak was rushed to the hospital during the Vijay Hazare Trophy due to severe pain, there were concerns he might miss the World Cup entirely. However, the BCCI later confirmed it was just a minor procedure and ruled him out only for the first three T20Is. His childhood coach, Salam Bayash, had confidently stated that Tilak would be back in action within ten days, and the latest news seems to back that up. 

As for Iyer, he last played a T20I in December 2023 and hasn’t been seen in the format since the last IPL final. His inclusion was merely a stopgap, not a revival of his T20 career. Once Tilak gets the green light, India’s middle order will go back to the original game plan.

It looks like India might kick things off with Ishan Kishan in the top spot instead of Iyer, especially since Kishan is also part of the T20 World Cup squad.