Tilak Varma After Knock Against Zimbabwe: ‘I Am Up for Any Role the Team Gives Me’

Tilak Varma impressed after moving to No.6 in India’s must-win Super 8 match against Zimbabwe, adapting to the situation and playing a key role in the team’s big total.

Tilak Varma entered India’s must-win Super 8 match against Zimbabwe under pressure after a quiet T20 World Cup 2026. In his first five matches, he scored 25, 25, 25, 31 and 1, with a strike rate below 120. India’s 76-run defeat to South Africa increased pressure on the middle order.

Team management moved him from No. 3 to No. 6 for the Chennai game. Varma responded with an aggressive 44 not out from 16 balls. He helped India reach 256/4, the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history.

After the match, Tilak Varma said he remains ready for any role the team assigns. He added that he can adjust to match situations and feels confident about delivering impactful performances going forward.

“I always say that whatever team needs, I am up for it. So I have done the same role [changing gears as per requirement] 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,” he said.

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Tilak Varma then noted that the team had decided to maintain the same tempo even if they lost 3 or 4 wickets in the power play. He added that the aim was to put pressure on opponents with fearless batting.

“So that is what Sanju started brilliantly this evening. 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 explained.

With India’s win, Zimbabwe has been eliminated from the tournament. India also benefited from South Africa’s win over the West Indies earlier in the day, which eased net run rate concerns.