Tilak Varma (ANI Photo)
3 to the middle order has brought a shift in his batting approach, with the left-hander now looking to attack from the outset whenever the opportunity presents itself. Tilak, who has established himself as a reliable performer in run chases over the past 12 months, has adapted to batting at No. 5 or 6 by balancing his attacking instincts with the need to take the game deep.
India vice-captain Tilak Varma says his move from No. 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,” he said ahead of the fourth T20I against New Zealand. “I already had the power game; I have scored runs at number three as well. “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.
The next goal is to win the upcoming match and give the Indian crowd a great chance to witness a 5–0 series win.” “We are thinking this is a great opportunity to achieve a clean sweep.
India have since taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
“I just told Nitish, ‘if we pull the match off from here, it’s going to be immense fun. Tilak said the team wants to make the most of the opportunity to complete a clean sweep. The approach has served him well, including during India’s tense chase in the second T20I against New Zealand, when he combined with Nitish Kumar Reddy to guide the team through a difficult situation. Let’s just stay out there, take the game deep, and see what happens’. Despite having already clinched the series, India are not planning to ease off in the remaining matches.