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India batter Tilak Varma admitted that he is ready to play any role the team asks of him after the team's massive 72-run win over Zimbabwe in their must-win Super 8 clash of the T20 World Cup 2026 at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Tilak came in at number six and played a brilliant unbeaten knock of 44 runs from just 16 balls. His innings helped India post a huge total and keep their T20 World Cup title defence on track.
Tilak Varma on batting order demotion
Tilak, who is usually India’s number three batter, had not been among the runs lately. Despite showing promise, his strike rate had raised questions, particularly against spin on slow pitches. In his previous five innings, he had scored at just over 118, and there were doubts about his spot in the playing XI.
However, in Chennai, he looked completely different. He attacked from the start, hitting three fours and four sixes at a stunning strike rate of 275.00. Speaking at the post-match press conference about batting at number six, Tilak said:
"I always say that whatever team needs, I am up for it. So I have done the same role (switching up between stabiliser and a hitter in the middle-order) for the last four years in IPL for the Mumbai Indians, and also I have done in a few games for the Indian team. So I am up for it. Whatever the team needs, I am up. And according to the situation, I can adjust. But as I said before, I was just waiting for one innings. So I am really grateful to God for that. I am pretty confident now that, going forward, I can win the games for the team."
Tilak Varma on performance against Zimbabwe
Tilak added that this innings and the overall team performance have boosted his confidence ahead of the important clash against the West Indies. He praised the openers for setting the tone and said the team had discussed maintaining the same attacking approach regardless of early setbacks.
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"So that is what Sanju (Samson) started brilliantly this evening (while opening). And it was followed by everyone. And we also discussed that whatever the situation is, if we get out in powerplay like three wickets or four wickets, we bat with the same rhythm. So that's what we discussed, and we want to show the fear to the opposition that these guys are ready to hit each and every ball," he added.
India watched West Indies vs South Africa clash
Tilak also admitted that the team kept an eye on the West Indies vs South Africa match, as the result affected India’s route to the semifinals. South Africa chased down 177 comfortably, which worked in India’s favour.
"We were all watching the match, and we knew that the wicket was good and the West Indies had made fewer runs. Know the way South Africa is batting and the way the South Africa team is, we knew they would play well. The match was over before it even started. So, as individuals and as a team, we felt it was important for us to win," he said.
He stressed that the team’s main focus was on playing good cricket and not worrying too much about calculations.
"If you play good cricket, the run rate will automatically - today the run rate has become better. If you play good cricket with the West Indies, the run rate will automatically increase. We were also focusing on our match. At the same time, we were watching the match (WI vs SA). But we needed our cricket to be good. If our cricket is good, then God will help us in the tournament," he concluded.
India will now face West Indies in their last T20 World Cup 2025 Super Eight clash which will take place on March 1 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Notbaly, this will be the do-or-die clash for both teams to seal semifinal berth.
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