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Tilak Varma embraces middle-order role and finds a different kind of fun

India T20I vice-captain Tilak Varma has embraced a shift from his accustomed No. 3 spot to a middle-order responsibility, a transition that followed a tactical reshuffle after a defeat to South Africa during the Super 8 stage of the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Having previously accumulated 651 runs at an average strike rate near 151 at No. 3, including centuries in Centurion and Johannesburg in November 2024, the twenty-three-year-old dropped down the order for a must-win match against Zimbabwe, contributing an unbeaten 44 off sixteen deliveries at No.

6 as India ultimately secured the tournament title.

Expressing a team-first mindset rooted in childhood coaching, Varma noted that he finds genuine fulfillment in guiding the team through the middle phases and salvaging innings following early dismissals. While batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi offered a contrasting view on the absolute freedom and powerplay advantages associated with batting at No.

3, Varma remains content supporting aggressive stroke-play from teammates like Ishan and Shreyas. Additionally, Varma addressed a recent run-out incident during a match in Indore, clarifying that a visual distraction from digital boundary advertising caused him to halt mid-run under the impression the ball had crossed the rope.

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