“I Can Go and Hit the First Ball” - Team India Batter Responds to Heavy Criticism Ahead of ZIM vs IND 2026 T20I Series
The India vice-captain said he adapts his batting to match situations as criticism grows over his strike rate.
- Ahead of Thursday's series opener against Zimbabwe, India T20 vice-captain Tilak Varma addressed his batting approach on Tuesday, emphasizing adapting to match situations rather than aggressive hitting.
- Following a winless tour of Ireland and England after two years of playing mostly in Asia, Tilak noted losing four or five wickets in the powerplay necessitated a more cautious team strategy.
- "If I have to play for the team till the end, then our team planning keeps changing," Tilak said, explaining that his vice-captaincy role requires adjusting strike rate based on conditions.
- Tilak expects Zimbabwe to "come hard at us" as they defeated India in their first meeting last year, stressing the importance of remaining calm under pressure during the series.
- Despite recent disappointments, Tilak insisted there is "no sense of panic" within the dressing room, with the team prioritizing individual support and focusing on basics for better execution ahead.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Tilak Varma hits back at strike-rate critics before Zimbabwe series, says 'I play as per situation'
Tilak Varma hits back at criticism over his strike rate during the Ireland and England tours, saying he bats according to the team's needs rather than personal milestones, pointing to India's repeated top-order collapses.
As vice-captain, I have to play responsibly: Tilak on questions over his strike rate
The fall of early wickets in the UK and Ireland did not give middle order batters like him the license to go all guns blazing from the get-go, said India T20 vice-captain Tilak Varma on Tuesday, insisting that his play is based on conditions and match situations.
India's T20 vice-captain Tilak Varma, responding to questions about his strike rate, said that he bats according to the circumstances and the team's needs. He cited the early wickets lost during the England-Ireland tour as a major reason. Tilak said that being the vice-captain has increased his responsibilities and that Zimbabwe cannot be taken lightly.
India's recent T20I slump due to overplaying in Asia, says Tilak Varma
Vice-captain Tilak Varma addressed India's recent T20I slump during the pre-series press conference in Harare. Varma argued that the team lost all six T20Is in the UK because they spent majority of the last two years playing in Asia.
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