Tilak Varma was under pressure to score big after his below-par batting outcomes for India in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 tournament. Varma had returned to the Indian team after missing the New Zealand T20I series due to an injury.
Batting at no. 3, Tilak found it hard to get the momentum and timing right and struggled to score well. There were even calls for his exclusion from the Indian team, as the Men in Blue stared at a group stage exit from the T20 World Cup ahead of the Zimbabwe game.
India made several changes to their batting order, including Tilak Varma coming in at no. 6 and hammering 44* in 16 balls with 3 fours and 4 sixes to his name, taking India to 256/4 in 20 overs, adding 84* runs in 31 balls with Hardik Pandya.
Speaking after the match, Tilak said the team's approach had been decided before they stepped onto the field.
“Before the game, we spoke about our brand of cricket. We watched how we've played over the last year. That gave everyone confidence. The message was simple—smile, enjoy, and go all out,” Varma stated after the match.
Citing the manner in which Zimbabwe's hitters approached the chase, he characterized the surface as good but noted that it stayed constant throughout both innings.
“To be honest, it was a very good wicket. But in the second innings also, you can see the way Bennett and Raza played. The wicket was even better than the first innings,” Tilak added.
Tilak had walked in to bat after the 10th over and first helped stabilize the innings before launching into a brutal assault on Zimbabwe bowlers. He has also done enough to retain his spot in India’s XI for the must-win tie against the West Indies.
“Whatever the team needs, I am up for it. I have done the same role for the last four years in the IPL and also for India in a few games. According to the situation, I can adjust. I was just waiting for one inning. The right time has come,” Tilak added.
Throughout the entire innings, India's aggressive strategy was clear. According to Tilak, the group had talked about keeping the goal in mind even if they lost early wickets.
“We discussed that even if we lose three or four wickets in the powerplay, we will back the same rhythm. We want to show the bowlers that we are ready to hit every ball. When the openers give a good start, that confidence follows to numbers three, four, and five. Sanju started brilliantly, and everyone followed,” he further added.
Tilak also acknowledged a mental shift within the group. Instead of consolidating after a wicket, the emphasis was on continuing to apply pressure.
“If the next ball is in range, we will hit. In my mind, if it's in my zone, I'm hitting it for six,” Tilak said.
Tilak stated that the team would maintain the same goal but continue to adjust to the circumstances as they prepare to play the West Indies in the quarterfinals in Kolkata.
“We want to play fearless cricket—the brand we have played since last year. The same intent we want to keep in the next game and through the tournament. If the wicket is not good, we will adjust, but the intensity will stay.
We are not thinking about scoring more than 250. But if the team is permitting and we get a good start, of course, we will go for it,” he added.
(ANI inputs)
