India, Jan. 8 -- India have been dealt a potential setback ahead of the T20I series against New Zealand with Tilak Varma nursing an abdominal injury. The left-handed batter's availability for the series is now under a cloud, raising concerns within the team management. The issue also casts a shadow over India's T20 World Cup plans, with Tilak having been named in the squad and featuring regularly in the playing XI over the past year. He has grown into a key middle-order presence, most notably during last year's Asia Cup, where he played a vital role in the title win, including a composed and match-defining fifty in the final against Pakistan.

According to a report on the Indian Express, Tilak experienced abdominal discomfort while in Raj...