With less than a month to go before the T20 World Cup 2026, India’s title defence faces a challenge as key players Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar are sidelined due to injuries. Both have been vital to India’s recent success—Varma has scored 847 runs from 22 innings since 2024, including pivotal knocks in the Asia Cup 2025, while Sundar has been instrumental with both bat and ball, claiming 20 wickets and contributing crucial runs over the past two years.
Varma underwent surgery for an abdominal issue while on domestic duty, and though his recovery is progressing well, he faces a race against time to regain full fitness. Sundar sustained a rib injury during India’s ODI series against New Zealand, further compounding the team’s concerns.
India will finalise their squad for the World Cup by January 31, but replacements can be named mid-tournament if necessary. With the tournament approaching, team management is monitoring recovery timelines closely while preparing contingency plans. Although India has squad depth, the absence of these key performers could impact team balance and combination strategies, testing the defending champions ahead of their home World Cup campaign.
