 "Why India A’s win over USA is good news for Team India ahead of T20 World Cup 2026")
India A’s 38-run win over the USA may appear as a regular victory, but it also delivered two significant pieces of sweet news for Team India as they gear up for the T20 World Cup 2026, which starts on 7 February with a match against the same team. The good news was the strong return of Tilak Varma to competitive action and Ravi Bishnoi’s continued good performance.
India’s designated No 3 for the T20 World Cup, Tilak Varma, had not played any competitive cricket since the 6 January Vijay Hazare match between Hyderabad and Bengal. His last India match was the fifth T20I vs South Africa on 19 December. The 23-year-old left-handed batter missed the entire five-match preparatory T20I series against New Zealand due to surgery for testicular torsion, raising concerns over his participation in the upcoming ICC tournament.
Tilak Varma allays fears over fitness
But the good news is that Tilak Varma is back! He scored a valuable 38 off 24 balls against the USA at the DY Patil Stadium on Monday, allaying fears over his fitness and recovery. He accumulated runs at a strike rate of 158 and smashed two sixes during his stay at the crease, but the most satisfying part was the crucial play time he earned in the warm-up match against the USA.
He also rolled his arms and got a wicket in the warm-up match.
With an impressive track record of 1183 runs in 40 T20Is at a strike rate of 144, Tilak, who made a match-winning 69 not out against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final under pressure, is set to be an indispensable asset for India in the T20 World Cup, especially when Sanju Samson has failed to hit the right form ahead of the multilateral event.
Tilak Varma wicket on 1st ball India vs USA 🔥 pic.twitter.com/P2xVWvNQq3
— raja news (@rajanews173) February 2, 2026
India captain Suryakumar Yadav has already hinted that Tilak Varma could straight slot into the playing XI, while in-form Ishan Kishan could replace Samson at the top.
“The final call on Ishan Kishan versus Sanju Samson for the opener role will be revealed on February 7,” SKY told JioHotstar recently.
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View AllBishnoi makes another case for Team India inclusion
Another piece of good news for Team India management at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil on Monday was Bishnoi’s three wickets for 37 in four overs. Bishnoi is not a part of India’s T20 World Cup squad, but he is the back-up option in case Washington Sundar fails to get fit in time for the tournament.
All-rounder Sundar is currently recovering at the BCCI Centre of Excellence from a side strain. There’s news that Sundar may become available for India from the Super 8 stage, but it’s also possible that India could be forced to replace him at some stage. In such a case, Bishnoi may come in handy.
Sundar is preferred because he can bat but also provides an off-spin option that can be a match-up against left-handed batters. Bishnoi can also move his stock ball away from left-handers, and this is why he played two matches against New Zealand, taking three wickets.
His continued good performance against the USA must have pleased coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar.
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