India’s batting order flexibility in T20Is has been under the scanner off late, particularly after the second T20I in which India sent Axar Patel out to bat at No.3 in the very first over of their chase of 214. The in-form Tilak Varma, however, has said that the team remains committed the philosophy that head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav have reiterated a number of times – that the only batters whose positions are fixed in the team are the openers.
“Everyone is flexible except the openers. I am up for batting at 3, 4, 5 or 6 — wherever the team prefers for me,” Tilak told reporters on the eve of India’s third T20I against South Africa in Dharamshala. “If the team feels a particular move is tactically best, everyone goes with the team.”
Tilak said that the move to send Axar out to bat at No.3 was part of the same thinking. “One-off games keep happening. Axar Patel has already done the same thing and he did well there. It depends on the situation,” he said.
India had won the first T20I of the series by 101 runs, dismissing South Africa for 74 runs, their lowest ever total in T20Is. However, South Africa roared back in the second T20I and won by 51 runs. While India have been on a bit of a golden run in T20Is of late, the fact that South Africa pushed them to the edge in the preceding ODI series and did a 2-0 whitewash on them in Tests before that has left an uneasy air around the third T20I for the hosts.
A high-scorer on the offing, feels Tilak
Tilak said that he anticipates a high-scoring match. “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,” he said.
However, he cautioned that low temperatures could offer some help to bowlers early on. With dew expected to play a role as the match begins at 7 pm, Tilak said India are mentally prepared for the challenge.
“We don’t have the toss in our hands. We are preparing for the dew and have practised with a slightly wet ball,” he said.
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Addressing concerns about playing in unfamiliar cold conditions, Tilak said mental strength is key.
“It’s very cold here, but we are prepared mentally and physically. Those who are mentally strong succeed everywhere,” he said. Tilak added that moving across the batting order does not affect his preparation. “We follow the basics in practice. I always think about what I can do for the team,” he said.