3 Indian players who could be promoted in the batting order

India extended their unbeaten T20I streak to 10 matches after defeating West Indies by eight wickets in the 1st T20I of the five-match series at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, on October 6, 2026. Shreyas Iyer captained the side, with Tilak Varma serving as vice-captain.

With the series now underway, the batting order is one area that could see adjustments in the matches ahead. Three players in particular have shown enough to warrant a look at a higher position in the lineup.

3. Naman Dhir

Naman Dhir made his T20I debut in the 1st T20I against West Indies on October 6, 2026, having already made his ODI debut against the same opponents on September 27, 2026. The 26-year-old right-handed batter didn’t get a chance to bat. In that match, Dhir took the wicket of Shai Hope, who had scored 52, claiming his maiden T20I wicket. As an all-rounder capable of contributing with both bat and ball, Dhir offers India genuine flexibility. Batting lower down the order limits his impact with the bat, and moving him up by even one or two positions could allow him to face more deliveries and express himself more freely. His ability to bowl off-breaks adds further value, making him a strong candidate for a higher slot as the series progresses.

2. Shivam Dube

Shivam Dube bowled well during the gold medal match in the Asian Games 2026 final against arch-rivals Pakistan. He has also done well in the limited chances he has got while batting down the order. However, it won’t be a bad strategy to promote him up the order. Dube has batted at No. 4 and 5 in the IPL and has good numbers there as well. He could be tested in that role for a game or too and it will help him prepare for when India lose too many wickets early in an innings.

1. Tilak Varma

Tilak Varma, born on November 8, 2002, in Hyderabad, is a left-handed batter who has played 49 T20Is, scoring 1,390 runs at an average of 44.83, with two centuries and six fifties, and a top score of 120*. Both of his T20I centuries were scored from the No. 3 position. In the 1st T20I against West Indies, he was slotted to bat at No. 5. The current vice-captain of the Indian men’s T20I side, Varma has excelled in a finisher’s role recently, with the order above him performing consistently well and limiting his time in the middle. His record at No. 3 suggests he is more than capable of handling a higher position, and returning him to that slot could unlock more of his potential across the remaining four matches of the series.