Kamal Ghorui
Left-handed batter Tilak Varma will feature for India A in one of their two T20 World Cup warm-up fixtures before joining the senior squad for the marquee tournament, the BCCI confirmed on Monday. India A are scheduled to take on the USA and Namibia in preparatory matches in Navi Mumbai and Bengaluru on Monday and Friday, respectively.Batting all-rounder Ayush Badoni has been named captain of the India A side, with Tilak set to appear in one of the games before linking up with the main team. The 23-year-old has been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru following lower abdominal surgery in Rajkot earlier this month.
Tilak was originally expected to be part of India’s squad for the final two T20Is against New Zealand but was held back to manage his workload ahead of the World Cup. His selection for the warm-up fixtures follows his participation in a simulation match at the CoE last Friday.The India A squad features several capped internationals, including Riyan Parag, Ravi Bishnoi, Khaleel Ahmed and Mayank Yadav, along with Naman Dhir, Ashutosh Sharma, Priyansh Arya, Gurjapneet Singh, Vipraj Nigam, Manav Suthar and Ashok Sharma. N Jagadeesan and Urvil Patel have been named as the wicketkeeping options.The warm-up games will also mark Mayank Yadav’s return to competitive cricket after a lengthy layoff. The pacer missed Lucknow Super Giants’ IPL 2025 campaign due to a lower back stress fracture and underwent surgery in Christchurch, New Zealand, last year. Riyan Parag has also been included following his recovery from a right shoulder injury at the CoE.India A squad for Men’s T20 World Cup warm-up matches: 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 and Mayank Yadav
