Good news is coming for India, as Tilak Varma, who missed the India vs. New Zealand five-match T20I series recently and had doubts about whether he would be fit in time to play the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 starting on 7 February, has now been confirmed fit and available. The India captain, Suryakumar Yadav, and board also confirmed that the left-hander will play the warm-up games.

Tilak Verma To Play India A vs USA Warm-up Matches of the T20 World Cup 2026

Tilak Verma, who has been out of action for over a month due to testicular surgery and missed the T20I series against New Zealand, has now successfully completed the high-intensity simulation match post-rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.

The BCCI has already announced the 23-year-old’s name in India. A squad for the warm-up matches ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 confirms his return. Also, the Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav also confirms Tilak’s fitness during the press conference, saying, "He has been shaping up well. I spoke to him yesterday; he has started batting, bowling, and fielding. We hope to have him back soon."

India A is set to play two warmup matches before officially beginning their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on 7 February. Notably, Tilak Varma will play only one warm-up match, and according to the reports, that will be the first one against the USA on 2 February 2026.

India A’s T20 World Cup 2026 Warm-up fixtures and squad

Match 1 - India A vs USA

  • Date - 2 February 2026

  • Time - 5:00 PM LOCAL, 11:30 AM GMT

  • Venue - Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai

Match 2 - India vs South Africa

  • Date - 4 February 2026

  • Time - 7:00 PM LOCAL, 1:30 PM GMT

  • Venue - Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai

Match 3 - India A vs Namibia

  • Date - 6 February 2026

  • Time - Time - 5:00 PM LOCAL, 11:30 AM GMT

  • Venue - BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1, Bengaluru

Ayush Badoni will lead the India A squad in the warm-up matches, while the main squad will be in action against South Africa in the warm-up match on 4 February.

India A Squad for the warm-up matches against the USA and Namibia

India A: Ayush Badoni (C), Naman Dhir, Ashutosh Sharma, Priyansh Arya, N Jagadeesan (WK), Tilak Varma, Riyan Parag, Manav Suthar, Ashok Sharma, Urvil Patel (WK), Gurjapneet Singh, Vipraj Nigam, Ravi Bishnoi, Khaleel Ahmed, Mayank Yadav

India’s squad for T20 World Cup 2026

India: 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, Rinku Singh