Tilak Varma intensifies T20 World Cup preparations, trains hard with Mayank Yadav - WATCH
Tilak Varma has been training hard at the BCCI's CoE to be fully fit for the 2026 T20 World Cup after missing the five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
New Delhi: Tilak Varma is training hard for the 2026 T20 World Cup at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. The Men in Blue will open their tournament campaign against the USA in Mumbai on February 7. A video of Tilak's batting went viral on social media, in which the left-hander is seen taking on Mayank Yadav.
The video shows the intensity of Tilak's sessions and his urgency to return to the Indian team ahead of the World Cup after injury. Mayank, another exciting fast bowling prospect currently training at the CoE, is seen bowling at full tilt to Tilak.
Tilak is working on his recovery after undergoing abdominal surgery earlier this month, which forced him to miss India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, but the middle-order batter's rehabilitation has progressed steadily.
According to reports, the left-handed batter is expected to join the Indian squad in Mumbai on February 3, just ahead of their T20 World Cup warm-up match against South Africa at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on February 4. The reports also suggested that pacer Mayank Yadav and batter Riyan Parag are also on the verge of receiving fitness clearance from the BCCI's CoE.
Tilak has already shown his ability to bat under pressure, scoring an unbeaten 69 runs against Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup Final. With the Men in Blue aiming to defend their T20 World Cup title, Tilak's form and fitness will be crucial for the Indian team.
India's T20 World Cup 2026 schedule
India have been placed in Group A alongside the USA, Netherlands, Pakistan and Namibia. The Men in Blue will begin their campaign on Saturday, February 7, taking on the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
After that, they will face Namibia in Delhi on February 12, and then square off against arch-rivals Pakistan in Colombo on February 15. Suryakumar Yadav and Co. will take on the Netherlands in their final group-stage match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.