Young India batter Tilak Varma has addressed the criticism over his T20I strike rate following a disappointing tour of Ireland and England. The left-hander acknowledged that his appointment as India’s vice-captain has come with greater responsibility, often requiring him to adjust his batting to suit the team’s needs instead of attacking from the very beginning.
Named as Shreyas Iyer’s deputy, Tilak said he is prepared to modify his approach based on the match situation and the expectations of the team management.
Tilak Varma Struggles On Ireland & England Tour
Tilak Varma had a forgettable tour of the United Kingdom despite notching up two half-centuries. The left-handed batter played seven T20Is across the Ireland and England series, scoring 178 runs at an average of 25.42. His highest score came in the second T20I against Ireland in Belfast, where he made 55 off 46 deliveries.
He later made an unbeaten 53 off 25 against England, but inconsistent scores drew criticism over his strike rate and approach against spin. India also endured a disappointing tour, losing 2-0 to Ireland and 4-0 to England. Shreyas Iyer’s side will now look to bounce back in the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe.
“There Are A Lot Of Responsibilities”: Tilak Varma On Playing For India
Tilak Varma came under scrutiny during the UK tour, with his strike rate and batting approach in the middle overs drawing criticism. Speaking ahead of the first T20I against Zimbabwe, the left-hander said his priority is always to play according to the team’s needs rather than focus on personal achievements.
Focused on regaining the momentum 👊
Vice-captain Tilak Varma on #TeamIndia's approach ahead of the #ZIMvIND T20Is as we aim to get back to winning ways 🙌@TilakV9 pic.twitter.com/3pJxfLhglp
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 21, 2026
“You have to adapt to different situations in T20 cricket. If the team needs me to anchor the innings, I’ll do that, and if I have to attack from the first ball, I’m ready for that too. During the Ireland and England tour, we kept losing wickets early, so taking unnecessary risks didn’t make sense,” Tilak Varma said in the pre-match press conference.
“I’m playing for the country, and that comes with a lot of responsibility. As vice-captain, I have a role assigned by the team management, and I want to fulfil that by batting according to the team’s requirements,” he added.
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