New Delhi, 8 Jan

India batter Tilak Varma has undergone a surgical procedure following a sudden medical issue and will not feature in the upcoming T20 International series against New Zealand, sources said.

The 23-year-old was rushed to a hospital in Rajkot after experiencing acute pain while with the Hyderabad squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Medical examinations revealed testicular torsion, a condition that requires immediate surgery.

According to a senior official from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the surgery was successfully conducted and the player is currently stable. The board will determine his return-to-play timeline after further evaluation by the medical team.

India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand begins on  21 January in Nagpur, with Varma confirmed to miss the entire assignment.

The T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, gets underway on  7 February. India will face the USA in their opening match in Mumbai before playing Namibia in Delhi on  12 February. Varma’s availability for the opening phase of the tournament remains uncertain.