Tilak Varma has adjusted his game and batting style since dropping down the batting order.
While earlier he batted at No. 3, in recent games, he has served more as a finisher while coming out to bat at No. 5 or 6.
“I already had the power game; I have scored runs at No. 3 as well. 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 in Auckland.
“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.
In the second T20I against New Zealand, Tilak partnered Nitish Kumar Reddy to pull off a tricky chase for India, who have 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. Let’s just stay out there, take the game deep, and see what happens’,” Tilak recollected.
While chasing a target, the 23-year-old said that he sets his game up keeping in mind the fact that the bowler is under pressure.
“In the end overs, as a batsman, the bowler is under far more pressure than I am.
That positive thought is constantly running in my head, that the bowler is under more pressure, so they are bound to leak runs.”
A shot at sweep
The series is sealed, but the team is gunning for a 5-0 sweep.
“We are thinking this is a great opportunity to achieve a clean sweep. The next goal is to win the upcoming match and give the Indian crowd a great chance to witness a 5-0 series win.”
Given the challenges of the New Zealand conditions and the shift in time zone, Tilak said head coach Gautam Gambhir’s clarity has helped them set goals.
“At this level, we cannot make excuses. We are at the highest level, and we need to set standards for the youngsters who look up to us.
“Gautam Sir made it clear in team meetings that this is a long tour and the standard we set as a T20 side will provide momentum for the ODI and Test squads,” Tilak said.
Praising the bowlers for the team’s success, Tilak said: “In the last two games we have bowled really well as a bowling unit, especially in the death overs and the middle phase.”