Bengaluru: India’s Tilak Varma (PTI Photo)
3 position to bat lower down the order presents a challenge, but the 23-year-old is confident that regular practice and mental preparation will help him adjust to the demands of his new role. 5 and 6 often have only five or six overs to make an impact, making it important to capitalise on scoring opportunities, including when bowlers deliver slower balls within their hitting range. When you go in to bat as a finisher, if a slower one comes into your arc, you should go for 6. Otherwise, if you see in T20, most of the time, if you go into that role of 5 or 6, you will get a maximum of 5 to 6 overs to bat.
And if you see the last few games, I have won from there.
Tilak said he has been putting in extra work in the nets to expand his shot-making range and improve his ability to score quickly when batting with limited time at the crease. India vice-captain Tilak Varma has acknowledged that moving away from his preferred No. “So, I am mentally prepared for that role. So, I am pretty confident to do well there as well,” he added. He explained that players operating at Nos. “Yeah, we should do that, otherwise, it will be slightly tough.
In 26 combined innings at Nos. 5 and 6, he has scored at an average of 46 and a strike rate of 158. 4 and the management’s decision to continue with the Abhishek Sharma-Sanju Samson opening combination have left Tilak with a reduced role in the middle order. 3 and has impressed in the position, leaving Tilak with little choice but to embrace the finishing responsibilities.
However, the arrival of Ishan Kishan, captain Shreyas Iyer ‘s presence at No. Kishan has been batting at No.
5 and 6 in T20Is as India continue to settle on their batting combination. “It’s not that easy to change the numbers from 3 to 5 and 6. “So, for me as an individual, if you see, it will be easier batting at 3. 6 offers encouragement. Across nine matches in that position, he averages 65.66 at a strike rate of 195. “Kishan is batting at number 3 now, and he is batting really brilliantly there. So, for me now, I think there is no option but to bat at 5 and 6 and do the job for the team. So, I am confident that if I bat at 3 or 5, I have got the technique to adapt. So, if I practise for 1 or 2 days, I can do any role for the team. 3, I can adapt after a day or two of practice. He pointed to the team’s consistent run-scoring, with India crossing the 200-run mark in every match, as a major positive. Especially in the batting, every game we have scored over 200 plus. Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news , check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule .
Because we have got that combination at the top right now, but unfortunately, now I should bat at 5 or 6. Because when we play back-to-back series, there will be different time zones and all those things, but as professional cricketers, we can’t give any excuse. So, as I said, you should be mentally strong enough to prepare for any challenge, any conditions so that you can become a bigger player,” he added.
I have said that I love finishing the games for the country,” he said. So, hopefully, we will do well in the New Zealand series,” he said. Tilak has increasingly been used at No. he is focused on becoming a reliable finisher for the team While the Hyderabad batter admits that he finds it easier to bat higher up the order. It will be slightly challenging. But I have been working on that. How can I finish the games? The left-hander’s record at No. “So, I have changed personally. I have been in this role in my childhood as well. I have got the shots going all over the ground. “Now, if I come back to No. I am confident of batting anywhere,” he noted. India’s players have endured a packed run of fixtures over the past few months, travelling across the United Kingdom, Japan and India. The team will soon head to New Zealand for an all-format tour. Tilak admitted that the demands of consecutive series, different time zones and changing conditions can be difficult, particularly for younger players. However, he stressed that handling such challenges is part of playing international cricket. We are used to it now. If you see, for any youngster coming into the team, it will be slightly challenging. “But again, you are playing for the country and at the highest level. Despite the challenges, Tilak believes India have several encouraging takeaways from the West Indies series that they can carry into the upcoming assignments in New Zealand. He also acknowledged the contributions of Nitish Reddy, Shivam Dube and Naman Dhir. “There have been quite a few good things. So, that’s a big positive, and that too, we haven’t got a proper all-rounder in the team. We have played both Nitish (Reddy) and (Shivam) Dubey as well. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines But both have done decently well. “Then Naman (Dhir) bowled well under pressure. As an off-spinner, bowling to right-handers, and that too against a big-gun team like the West Indies. “So, there are a few good points for us to take into the upcoming series. As a team, we have introspected a few things in the bowling as well. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
Speaking after the fifth and final T20I against the West Indies was washed out on Saturday night, Tilak said adapting to different batting positions requires considerable work, particularly when the responsibility is to close out games.