Indian cricket team batter Tilak Varma has been officially ruled out of the first three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) against New Zealand, following emergency abdominal surgery in Rajkot. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Thursday that the 23-year-old underwent a successful procedure for testicular torsion after experiencing acute pain. He was promptly discharged from the hospital on Thursday morning and is scheduled to return to Hyderabad on Friday, with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stating he is currently stable and progressing well. The five-match T20I series between India and New Zealand is set to commence on January 21, 2026, in Nagpur, with other matches scheduled across various Indian cities until January 31. While initial reports from his coach suggested he might be ready to resume training in 7-10 days and potentially feature in the series, the official BCCI update indicates that his availability for the remaining two T20Is will be assessed based on his progress during the return-to-training and skill phases. The recovery is expected to take three to four weeks, which unfortunately casts a shadow over Varma's participation in India's T20 World Cup 2026 opener against the United States of America on February 7. Tilak Varma has been a vital part of India's T20I setup, making his absence a significant setback for the team ahead of crucial international assignments.