Amid India's struggles in the ongoing England T20I series, former BCCI chief selector Kris Srikkanth has delivered a scathing assessment of Tilak Varma's 'scratchy' batting approach, contrasting it with the vice-captain's confident demeanor on the field.

Srikkanth's comment came after India’s series-conceding nine-wicket defeat in the fourth T20I at Bristol on Thursday (July 9). This setback follows a shocking 2-0 whitewash against Ireland last month.

In the penultimate T20I, Tilak was dismissed for 8-ball 11 while batting at No. 6. Before this game, the southpaw had registered scores of 19, 55, 13, 24* and 3 in the ongoing UK tour.

"There is nothing more to say about Tilak Varma. The whole world is talking about him. Yet, he walks with such courage and conviction as the captain when Shreyas Iyer wasn't on the field. Even Gavaskar hasn't walked like this, with such swag. But when it comes to batting, no one scratches around like him. He looks scared when batting," Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

Srikkanth highlighted Tilak’s vulnerability against spin and short-pitched bowling, claiming that the left-hander can’t be India’s finisher.

Tilak Varma previously slammed two T20I centuries against South Africa, which his supporters often cite. Srikkanth dismissed this, stating that past performances cannot justify a guaranteed spot or a leadership role during a severe dip in current form.

"They keep changing his (Tilak) position by the day. He's not a finisher at all as spinners easily strangle him. He also struggles if the ball is short. He only looks the part if its medium-pace bowling. But they've elevated him to vice-captaincy also. People have to stop bringing his centuries in South Africa. That's ancient history and ages ago," Srikkanth added.

Tilak will look to finish the England series on a high in the fifth and final T20I at Southampton on Saturday (July 11).