Tilak Varma ruled out of key T20I matches; Shreyas Iyer retains his place

Shreyas Iyer retains his place in T20I squad [Source: AFP Photo]Shreyas Iyer, who was picked in the India T20I squad for the New Zealand series, will continue to stay with the side as Tilak Varma’s comeback has been delayed. Iyer was initially picked for the first three T20Is, but with Tilak’s injury taking time to heal, the right-handed batter will remain with the squad.According to the latest report by The Times of India, Tilak is injury-free and is close to receiving clearance to participate in competitive cricket. However, the BCCI Centre of Excellence is not taking any risks with the youngster ahead of the marquee T20 World Cup.BCCI not taking any chances with Tilak Varma's injury"He is pain free at the moment and is making good progress but the CoE wants him to be completely ready before giving him green signal for the World Cup. The initial plan was to have him on the park for the fourth T20I. He could still be available for the fifth game," a BCCI source TOI."Tilak was playing competitive cricket before he got injured so there is no issue in that. The selectors will ony proceed once they get the RTP from CoE. There will be no chances for any player and that's why there is some delay and that's why there is some delay in the initial timelines," the statement added.The team management doesn’t want to take any chances with any of the players, and with India winning the T20I series with two games to spare, Iyer could get some game-time in the next two matches.India is going through a purple patch and the selectors would want an injury-free squad ahead of the T20 World Cup as India aims to become the first team to win the T20 World Cup in home soil.Who plays at 3 when Tilak Varma returns in T20I squad?With Tilak Varma injured, India replaced him with Shreyas Iyer, but the batter is yet to play a single game against the Kiwis. Ishan Kishan replaced Tilak at number 3, and the southpaw stamped his authority and scored runs in the second and the third T20I.He scored a blistering 76 off 32 in the second T20I, and helped India win the contest. It was followed by another quick-fire 28 off 13 in the third T20I as he steadied the ship after an early collapse and India won the match and the series.Once Tilak Varma is injury-free and gets back to full fitness, India has two options. One, they can play Tilak at number 3 and continue to persist with Sanju Samson as the opener. The second, they push Kishan at the top alongside Abhishek Sharma with Tilak at number 3,The second option appears more feasible, as Kishan has scored runs and won matches for India in the ongoing series, whereas Samson has failed in all three T20Is. When Tilak returns to the squad, India is likely to promote Kishan as the opener for the T20 World Cup, with Samson losing his place, and Tilak playing at his usual spot, number 3.