India vice-captain Tilak Varma has explained how he has adapted his batting approach after moving down the order in T20I cricket. The left-handed batter believes that batting at No. 5 or No. 6 requires a different mindset compared to playing at No. 3, where he has more time to settle in and build an innings.
Speaking ahead of the fourth T20I against New Zealand, Tilak reflected on the adjustments he has made to become more effective in the middle order. His approach came into focus during the second T20I in Christchurch on October 24, when he played a match-winning knock under pressure to help India secure a memorable victory.
“I already had the power game; I have scored runs at number three as well. Now, batting at number five or six, I think about going for a boundary off the very first ball only if it’s there to be hit,” Tilak Varma said during the pre-match press conference.
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The India batter clarified that moving down the order has not changed his natural attacking instincts. Instead, he has learned to assess the match situation before choosing when to accelerate. While batting at No. 3 allows him to spend more time building an innings, the lower-middle order often demands quicker decisions and calculated risks.
Tilak Varma believes that rotating the strike and finding gaps are equally important when the situation calls for patience. Rather than attempting an aggressive shot immediately, he prefers to keep the scoreboard moving before looking for opportunities to score boundaries. “Otherwise, I focus on taking the game deep. I take a bit more time. Initially, I focus on singles and doubles, finding gaps for fours or two runs,” he added.
Tilak’s performance in the second T20I highlighted the effectiveness of this approach. Coming in at No. 6 with India struggling at 70/5 while chasing 181, he remained unbeaten on 51 off just 26 deliveries.
He received valuable support from Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored 26 off 13 balls. The duo stitched together an unbeaten 69-run partnership for the seventh wicket, guiding India to a four-wicket victory.
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The stand was India’s highest for the seventh wicket in men’s T20I cricket, underlining the importance of their partnership in a difficult situation. Tilak’s composed yet aggressive innings also earned him the Player of the Match award. As India continue their T20I series against New Zealand, Tilak’s growing adaptability could prove crucial to strengthening the team’s middle-order batting options.
