India, Jan. 8 -- Tilak Varma's surgery has dropped an uncomfortable question into India's T20 World Cup build-up: What if he can't medically be cleared in time, and who then could be his replacement? Reports quoting a BCCI official claim that Tilak reported acute pain in Rajkot while with the Hyderabad team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, was diagnosed with testicular torsion, and underwent successful surgery.

The issue isn't only that India loses a left-handed batter in the top three for the series against New Zealand. If Tilak's recovery is delayed, it may force India to make a last-minute change to the squad for the marquee tournament.

The most sensible argument for replacing Tilak Varma should be a ready-made top middle-order batter wh...