India vice-captain details his tactical adjustment when batting at No. 5 or 6, prioritising singles and doubles before hunting boundaries during the T20I series against New Zealand.
India vice-captain Tilak Varma has rethought his approach as he moves down the batting order, adjusting his strategy when batting at positions No. 5 or No. 6. The left-hander has explained how the demands of lower-order batting differ fundamentally from his role at No. 3, where he has greater time to settle and construct an innings methodically.
Speaking ahead of the fourth T20I against New Zealand, Tilak reflected on his recent performance and the tactical evolution that has shaped his recent displays. His comments came after a standout performance in the second T20I at Christchurch on October 24, where he demonstrated the effectiveness of his adjusted approach under pressure.
"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," Tilak said in the pre-match press conference.
How does Tilak's approach differ at No. 5 and 6?
The shift is not about abandoning aggression but rather about recognising when to take risks and when to keep the innings moving. Tilak emphasised that the distinction between batting at No. 3 and lower positions lies in the amount of time available to assess the match situation. At No. 3, he has greater scope to settle and construct methodically, whereas at No. 5 or No. 6, the urgency and context demand a quicker assessment of scoring chances.
"Otherwise, I focus on taking the game deep. I take a bit more time. Initially, I focus on singles and doubles, finding gaps for fours or two runs," Tilak said.
Walking in at No. 6 with India positioned at 70 for 5 while chasing 181, Tilak remained unbeaten on 51 off 26 balls in the second T20I. Alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy, who contributed 26 off 13 balls, the pair forged an unbeaten 69-run partnership for the seventh wicket to secure a four-wicket victory. This seventh-wicket stand stands as India's highest partnership for that wicket in men's T20 Internationals, underscoring the quality of batting displayed by both players under challenging circumstances. Tilak's innings earned him the Player of the Match award and demonstrated the balance between caution and aggression that he described.