Navi Mumbai, February 2, 2026 – Tilak Varma is set to feature in India A's T20 World Cup warm-up match against the USA today at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, offering him a final opportunity to fine-tune his skills before joining the main Indian squad. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the India A squad for the upcoming warm-up matches ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
Ayush Badoni will lead the India A side, which includes a blend of capped India players and emerging talent. Varma, a left-handed batsman from Hyderabad, has been undergoing rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru after recovering from lower abdominal surgery earlier this month.
Varma's inclusion in the India A squad comes after he participated in a simulation match at the CoE last Friday. He was initially considered for the final two T20Is against New Zealand but was ultimately held back to ensure his availability for the World Cup. The 23-year-old made an instant impact in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after being picked by Mumbai Indians at the IPL 2022 auction.
The India A squad includes capped players such as Riyan Parag, Ravi Bishnoi, Khaleel Ahmed, and Mayank Yadav. N Jagadeesan and Urvil Patel are the wicketkeeping options for the side. The warm-up matches will also mark Mayank Yadav's return to competitive cricket after recovering from a lower back stress fracture.
India A will play two warm-up matches, with the first against the USA today and the second against Namibia on February 6 in Bengaluru. The senior Indian team is also scheduled to play a warm-up match against South Africa on February 4 in Navi Mumbai.
These warm-up matches provide an opportunity for both the senior side and India A to fine-tune their combinations and assess player form before the start of the T20 World Cup. All eyes will be on Tilak Varma as he looks to gain valuable match practice before joining the main squad.
The India A vs USA match is scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM today at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.