Shreyas Iyer, a temporary selection for the ongoing T20 series against New Zealand due to the unavailability of Tilak Varma, has been retained in the squad for the remainder of the series. He will travel to Visakhapatnam and subsequently to Thiruvananthapuram for the last two games of the five-match series.

Iyer was initially named a replacement for Tilak for the first three matches only. His travelling with the squad indicated that Tilak would not feature in the ongoing series, which the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed.

"Tilak Varma has resumed physical training and is making steady progress with his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. However, he will require additional time to regain full match fitness and will not be available for the final two T20Is of the ongoing five-match T20I series. Tilak will link up with the squad in Mumbai once he has regained full match fitness on 3rd February, ahead of India's warm-up match for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026," the BCCI said on Monday. A source close to him said he is a "sure bet" to be available for the World Cup.

Iyer, the vice-captain in ODIs, is yet to get a berth in the playing XI in the current series. He has not played a T20I since December 2023.

Meanwhile, it is still not clear if Washington Sundar will be available for the T20 World Cup. He was ruled out of the T20Is and has been out of action since the first ODI against New Zealand in Baroda. Sundar underwent scans after reporting an acute onset of discomfort in his lower rib area while bowling in Vadodara on January 11.

"This was followed by an in-person consultation with an expert. He has been diagnosed with a side strain and has been advised rest for a few days, following which he will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) for further management of his injury," the BCCI said while announcing Ravi Bishnoi as his replacement for the T20Is. Sources close to Sundar say there is a possibility that he could join the World Cup squad a little late but a lot will depend on the fitness report from CoE.

Bishnoi, who has played 43 T20Is, managed to find a place in the XI for Sunday's fixture in Guwahati, making a comeback into the Indian team after almost a year and impressed immediately, returning figures of two for 18 in four overs. It is likely the selectors will persist with him for the World Cup if Sundar is ruled out.