“One good innings can change everything”: Tilak Varma on regaining form

Tilak Varma credited his comeback to revisiting past performances and emphasised the team’s flexible batting approach. The win over Zimbabwe showcased India’s fearless mindset and collective determination to dominate the opposition.

Hyderabad: India stayed afloat in the race to the T20 World Cup semifinals with a comprehensive 72‑run win over Zimbabwe in Chennai on Thursday as Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya struck half‑centuries and Tilak Varma eased concerns with a composed knock.

“I wasn’t overthinking my batting. I was just focused on following my basics. I sat in my room and didn’t speak to anyone apart from my family and one of my friends,” said star batter Tilak Varma after India’s emphatic victory in Chennai.

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Tilak said he drew strength from revisiting past performances. “I watched my old videos because I knew it was just a matter of one innings. I knew I would get that confidence and my batting form back. I told my family the same thing, that if I’m able to get that one good innings, I would go on to win games for the team from then on,” he told JioHotstar after the match.

On the change in his batting position and the batters’ approach, Tilak said, “Before the game, Hardik bhai, Surya bhai and all the batters had a chat that we would play according to what the team needs and the match situation. There was no discussion about positions in the batting order.”

“We are all flexible and can bat wherever the team requires. Everyone has the freedom to express themselves and be fearless in taking the best option while in the middle,” Tilak added.

“The idea was to keep a smile on your face and enjoy the game. At most, you might get out, but the fear in the bowlers’ eyes should be visible, that we are ready to hit every ball. That was the only mindset we played with,” Tilak said, summing up India’s approach in the crucial win.