"Gautam Gambhir Made It Clear": Tilak Varma On Coach's 'ODI-Test' Message For T20I Squad

Tilak Varma on his role, Gautam Gambhir and Shreyas Iyer© BCCI/Creimas

India are 3-0 up in the five-match series against New Zealand, but the tourists aren't willing to take their feet off the gas. Speaking at the press conference on the eve of the fourth T20I at Eden Park, India vice-captain Tilak Varma spoke about how the team is preparing itself for the remaining two matches of the series. While Tilak didn't shy away from saying a 5-0 clean sweep is the target for the Indian team, he also emphasised the message received from head coach Gautam Gambhir, who is keen to carry this momentum forward into the ODI and Test assignments that follow.

The Indian team has been involved in rigorous travel, with overlaps also taking place on some occasions, prompting the management to use different sets of players for parallel assignments. Yet, Tilak doesn't think the players have the option of saying that they are fatigued.

"At this level, we cannot make excuses. We are at the highest level, and we need to set standards for the youngsters who look up to us," Tilak said in the press conference, as quoted by RevSportz.

He revealed how Gambhir reinforced this long-term focus in him and other members of the team.

"Gautam sir made it clear in team meetings that this is a long tour and the standard we set as a T20 side will provide momentum for the ODI and Test squads," Tilak iterated.

Speaking of his leadership dynamic with captain Shreyas Iyer, Tilak said, "As captain, it becomes tough to cover every single detail alone. So Iyer and I share concise communication; we discuss areas where I can assist him, and he asks for inputs too. Taking on those small roles on the field is something I'm enjoying, and this combination is delivering positive results."

Tilak started out in India's T20I team at the number 3 spot but, most recently, has been playing the role of a finisher at number 5 or even number 6. While this shuffle of the batting order is undoubtedly difficult to adapt to, Tilak said that he has always had the power game, which has helped him excel in the role of a finisher.

"I already had the power game; I have scored runs at number 3 as well," he smiled. "Now, especially batting at number 5 or 6, I think about going for a boundary off the very first ball only if it's there to be hit. Otherwise, I focus on taking the game deep. I take a bit more time. Initially, I focus on singles and doubles, finding gaps for fours or twos."

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