‘I can hit from ball one, but I play according to the situation’ – Tilak Varma addresses strike rate criticism ahead of ZIM T20Is

Tilak Varma pushed back against mounting criticism of his strike rate on recent tours, saying he prioritises adjusting his approach to match what the team needs rather than chasing aggressive batting metrics. The 23-year-old left-handed batter faced questions after his recent form across Ireland and England, where he managed to score runs but at a measured tempo compared to expectations of a specialist middle-order batter.

Recent tours exposed India’s challenges in the powerplay phase. Reflecting on the lessons from India’s last two T20I series defeats against Ireland and England, Tilak said the squad’s focus is firmly on executing its plans and rediscovering winning momentum. The middle order often had to stabilise the innings rather than launch attacks when early batters departed quickly, placing Tilak in a difficult balancing act.

“In this game, you have to bat in different positions, and especially in those conditions, it isn’t easy. At the same time, I’ve always said that I do whatever the team requires. If I have to grind it out for the team, I’ll do that. If I have to hit from ball one, I can do that as well,” Tilak was quoted as saying by ICC.

Context and match situations shape his approach

Tilak, India’s T20I vice-captain, emphasised that the squad’s focus remains on executing plans and regaining winning momentum.

“Honestly, it has been a big learning since the last series. And we are just looking forward and we just want to follow our basics and do well in the coming series. In this series, we will execute well and seal our best cricket. We want to get that momentum back again,” the Mumbai Indians’ batter said.

Tilak warned against underestimating the hosts, citing their victory in the opening match of the previous bilateral series. Shubman Gill-led India lost the first match but won the next four in the five-T20I series in 2024.

The series starts on July 23, with the second and third matches on July 25 and 26 at Harare Sports Club. India have called up three fresh faces to the T20I side in the form of pacers Yash Thakur and Ashok Sharma, as well as explosive opener Prabhsimran Singh. For Tilak, the Zimbabwe tour presents a chance to reset his form and prove that his measured innings can co-exist with his side’s attacking brand when conditions demand it.

Shreyas Iyer would be hoping to register his first win as India’s T20I skipper. Under his leadership, the Men in Blue lost two matches in Ireland and four in England. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, recently lost a three-match T20I series at home by a 2-1 margin.