‘No option but to bat at 5 or 6’: Tilak Varma on adapting to new role in T20I setup

Bengaluru: India's Tilak Varma (PTI Photo)

India vice-captain Tilak Varma has acknowledged that moving away from his preferred No. 3 position to bat lower down the order presents a challenge, but the 23-year-old is confident that regular practice and mental preparation will help him adjust to the demands of his new role.Tilak has increasingly been used at No. 5 and 6 in T20Is as India continue to settle on their batting combination. While the Hyderabad batter admits that he finds it easier to bat higher up the order, he is focused on becoming a reliable finisher for the team.

Speaking after the fifth and final T20I against the West Indies was washed out on Saturday night, Tilak said adapting to different batting positions requires considerable work, particularly when the responsibility is to close out games."It's not that easy to change the numbers from 3 to 5 and 6. It will be slightly challenging. But I have been working on that. How can I finish the games? I have said that I love finishing the games for the country," he said."So, for me as an individual, if you see, it will be easier batting at 3. But unfortunately, now I should bat at 5 or 6 because we have got that combination at the top right now."The left-hander's record at No. 6 offers encouragement. Across nine matches in that position, he averages 65.66 at a strike rate of 195.

In 26 combined innings at Nos. 5 and 6, he has scored at an average of 46 and a strike rate of 158.However, the arrival of Ishan Kishan, captain Shreyas Iyer's presence at No. 4 and the management's decision to continue with the Abhishek Sharma-Sanju Samson opening combination have left Tilak with a reduced role in the middle order.Kishan has been batting at No. 3 and has impressed in the position, leaving Tilak with little choice but to embrace the finishing responsibilities."Kishan is batting at number 3 now, and he is batting really brilliantly there. So, for me now, I think there is no option but to bat at 5 and 6 and do the job for the team."So, I am mentally prepared for that role. And if you see the last few games, I have won from there. So, I am pretty confident to do well there as well," he added.

Tilak working on his finishing skills

Tilak said he has been putting in extra work in the nets to expand his shot-making range and improve his ability to score quickly when batting with limited time at the crease.He explained that players operating at Nos. 5 and 6 often have only five or six overs to make an impact, making it important to capitalise on scoring opportunities, including when bowlers deliver slower balls within their hitting range."Yeah, we should do that, otherwise, it will be slightly tough. When you go in to bat as a finisher, if a slower one comes into your arc, you should go for 6. Otherwise, if you see in T20, most of the time, if you go into that role of 5 or 6, you will get a maximum of 5 to 6 overs to bat."So, I have changed personally. I have been in this role in my childhood as well. I have got the shots going all over the ground. So, I am confident that if I bat at 3 or 5, I have got the technique to adapt. So, if I practise for 1 or 2 days, I can do any role for the team."Now, if I come back to No. 3, I can adapt after a day or two of practice. I am confident of batting anywhere," he noted.

Busy schedule no excuse, says India vice-captain

India's players have endured a packed run of fixtures over the past few months, travelling across the United Kingdom, Japan and India.

The team will soon head to New Zealand for an all-format tour.Tilak admitted that the demands of consecutive series, different time zones and changing conditions can be difficult, particularly for younger players. However, he stressed that handling such challenges is part of playing international cricket."It will be slightly challenging. But as professional cricketers, we can't give any excuse because when we play back-to-back series, there will be different time zones and all those things.

We are used to it now. If you see, for any youngster coming into the team, it will be slightly challenging."But again, you are playing for the country and at the highest level. So, as I said, you should be mentally strong enough to prepare for any challenge, any conditions so that you can become a bigger player," he added.

Tilak highlights positives from West Indies series

Despite the challenges, Tilak believes India have several encouraging takeaways from the West Indies series that they can carry into the upcoming assignments in New Zealand.He pointed to the team's consistent run-scoring, with India crossing the 200-run mark in every match, as a major positive. He also acknowledged the contributions of Nitish Reddy, Shivam Dube and Naman Dhir."There have been quite a few good things. Especially in the batting, every game we have scored over 200 plus. So, that's a big positive, and that too, we haven't got a proper all-rounder in the team. We have played both Nitish (Reddy) and (Shivam) Dubey as well.

But both have done decently well."Then Naman (Dhir) bowled well under pressure. As an off-spinner, bowling to right-handers, and that too against a big-gun team like the West Indies."So, there are a few good points for us to take into the upcoming series. As a team, we have introspected a few things in the bowling as well. So, hopefully, we will do well in the New Zealand series," he said.