Sports · Cricket · 2 hrs ago
Tilak Varma adapts to India's middle order as team targets New Zealand sweep
India vice-captain Tilak Varma has moved from No.
3 to No.
5 or 6 in the batting order during the T20I series against New Zealand.
From the middle order, he looks for a boundary from his first ball only when the chance is there; otherwise, he builds with singles and twos.
His unbeaten 51 helped India win a difficult chase in the second match, alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy.
India have won the first three matches and secured the five-match series.
The team now hopes to complete a 5-0 clean sweep, rather than ease off.
The fourth T20I is scheduled for October 30 at Eden Park in Auckland.
India vice-captain Tilak Varma says moving from No. 3 to No. 5 or No. 6 has changed how he approaches batting.
He looks for a boundary from the first ball when it is available, but says he also focuses on singles and doubles and taking the innings deep.
India lead New Zealand 3-0 in the five-match T20I series and have already secured the series.
Tilak says India are aiming to win the remaining matches and complete a 5-0 sweep.
The fourth T20I is scheduled for October 30 at Eden Park in Auckland.
- Who
- India vice-captain Tilak Varma and the Indian team.
- What
- Tilak has described adapting to batting at No. 5 or No. 6 as India target a 5-0 T20I series sweep.
- When
- Ahead of the fourth T20I, scheduled for October 30, 2026.
- Where
- The series is in New Zealand; the fourth match is scheduled for Eden Park in Auckland.
- Why
- Tilak says his lower-order role requires him to balance early scoring opportunities with taking the game deep. India want to win the remaining matches and complete a clean sweep.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
India won the first two matches by four wickets, according to India Today.
Tilak scored an unbeaten 51 off 26 balls at No. 6 in Christchurch as India chased 181 and won by four wickets.
India chased 199 in Wellington in 13.2 overs to take a 3-0 lead in the series.
The fourth T20I is scheduled to take place at Eden Park in Auckland.
- Series score
- India lead New Zealand 3-0 in a five-match T20I series
- Tilak's new batting positions
- No. 5 or No. 6, after batting at No. 3
- Christchurch innings
- Unbeaten 51 off 26 balls in the second T20I
- Seventh-wicket stand
- 69 not out with Nitish Kumar Reddy in the second T20I
- Fourth T20I
- Eden Park, Auckland, October 30, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
I already had the power game; I have scored runs at number three as well. Now, batting at number five or six, I think about going for a boundary off the very first ball only if it's there to be hit
In the end overs, as a batsman, the bowler is under far more pressure than I am.
I just told Nitish, 'if we pull the match off from here, it's going to be immense fun. Let's just stay out there, take the game deep, and see what happens'
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