India batter Tilak Varma has defended the batting order experiments made by Gautam Gambhir and the team management in the ongoing T20I series against South Africa. He reiterated that they will continue to do experiments even if they do not turn out to be fruitful and added that everyone is the batting order is flexible except for the openers.
Gambhir had come under a lot of scrutiny after Axar Patel was sent out to bat at the No.3 spot during the second T20I against South Africa. This was quite a surprising move and saw skipper Suryakumar Yadav drop down the order and come in to bat at the fourth position. However, it didn't prove to a successful move by any means as Axar got dismissed after scoring just 21 runs from as many deliveries and Suryakumar also lost his wicket cheaply for five runs.
However, Tilak defended the strategy, stating that it was just a one-off game where their plan didn't work.
“Everyone is flexible except the openers. I am up for batting at 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherever the team prefers for me. If the team feels a particular move is tactically best, everyone goes with the team," Tilak said in the pre-match press-conference.
“One-off games keep happening. Axar Patel has already done the same thing and he did well there. It depends on the situation," he added.
Tilak's take on Dharamsala track
Tilak also provided his verdict on the nature of the pitch in Dharamsala where the third T20I of the series is set to be held. Despite the pitch there generally favouring the bowlers due to the cold weather, the 23-year-old feels that the track can favour the batters.
“I have played an Under-19 India series here before. We are watching the wicket and I feel it will be a high-scoring one," Tilak stated.
The series is currently level
Meanwhile, the five-match series between India and South Africa is currently tied at 1-1. While the hosts won the first game comprehensively by 101 runs, the Proteas fired back with a 51-run win in the second match. It remains to be seen as to which team will come out on top in the highly-important third game.