Tilak Varma Cleared for World Cup Return After Injury Recovery

• Tilak Varma is set to return to the squad after recovering from injury and receiving clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.
• A BCCI source confirmed Tilak is 'fully match-fit' and will join the Indian team in Mumbai on February 3.
• Tilak Varma is considered an important batter for India, having scored 1183 runs in 40 T20Is with a strike rate of 144.09 and an average of 51.83.
• He has two centuries and six half-centuries in his 40-match T20I career, including being the highest scorer against Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup final.
• Despite Tilak's return, Ishan Kishan's excellent form, including a 103-run innings against New Zealand, makes his exclusion unlikely, while Sanju Samson struggled against New Zealand.

Why It Matters: Tilak Varma is cleared for World Cup return, boosting India's batting options despite Ishan Kishan's strong form.