India vice-captain Tilak Varma says he is enjoying batting in the middle order, though No. 3 is his preferred slot, on the eve of the 4th T20I v West Indies in Hyderabad.
India vice-captain Tilak Varma says he is enjoying the middle-order job, even though No. 3 remains his preferred batting position. He spoke at the pre-match press conference in Hyderabad on Tuesday, on the eve of the 4th T20I against West Indies at his home ground.
| At a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| Player | Tilak Varma, India vice-captain |
| Match | 4th T20I v West Indies, Wednesday 14 October 2026, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad |
| Series | India lead the five-match series 2-1 |
| Preferred slot | No. 3, though he has batted everywhere from opener to No. 6 in T20Is |
| Current role | Mostly No. 5, sometimes No. 6: handle the middle phase |
| Since June 2026 | 327 runs in 16 T20Is at 46.71, strike rate 145.33 (reports say) |
A job he says he is enjoying
Tilak has said he has been an opener since childhood, batted No. 3 at the U-19 World Cup, No. 4 in the IPL, and then 5 and 6. He admits the shift from 3 or 4 down to 6 or 7 is really tough, with slower balls, the older ball, yorkers and spread fields all in play. Even so, the message on Tuesday was that he is enjoying the role.
He described the job as taking the game deep, absorbing pressure and letting the power-hitters play around him. He called himself the man who wants to take pressure. His coach's advice, he said, is that whatever the situation, making the team win is always fun.
He explained the middle-phase brief in two parts. If wickets fall, he takes his time and takes the game deep. If the top three bat until the 14th or 15th over, he has to get going from the first ball.
The No. 3 numbers
Reports say his T20I numbers at No. 3 are an average of 43.40 and a strike rate of 150.69 in 21 innings, while No. 4 has been his most consistent slot, with an average above 54 in 14 innings. Since June 2026 he has made 327 runs at 46.71 and a strike rate of 145.33 in 16 T20Is, batting mostly at 5 or below.
The No. 3 spot has history for him. About two years ago in South Africa, Tilak asked then-captain Suryakumar Yadav to let him bat there so he could express himself freely. Suryakumar gave up his own spot, and Tilak repaid the faith with back-to-back hundreds on that tour.
India's approach in Hyderabad
Tilak said India will keep playing aggressive cricket. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has told the bowlers to go for wickets, and the batters will assess conditions rather than chase fixed totals.
Hyderabad is where he grew up playing, and he called it special and a proud moment to be back as India's vice-captain. He also noted that Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Abhishek Sharma, whose IPL home ground this is, have played more matches in Hyderabad than he has.
Where the series stands
India lead 2-1 after winning the 3rd T20I in Indore on 11 October. The first two games were in Lucknow (6 October) and Ranchi (9 October), and the series finishes with the 5th T20I in Bengaluru on 17 October.
The story comes from ESPNcricinfo (Hemant Brar), with additional detail from RevSportz. Read the full piece on ESPNcricinfo. ESPNcricinfo.
Second source: RevSportz on India's aggressive approach ahead of the 4th T20I. RevSportz.
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