Tilak Varma explains Gautam Gambhir’s unconventional T20I coaching style
India batsman Tilak Varma spoke about head coach Gautam Gambhir’s unconventional methods in T20I cricket and gave an insight into the new approach, team environment and tactical thinking that has shaped India’s shortest format setup in the former opener.
Tilak Varma revealed that the Men in Blue have adopted an all-round batting approach in the shortest format to adapt to the varying conditions of different venues. In the second T20I, Axar Patel batted at No. 3 but managed to bowl just 21 balls, which led to them being defeated by 51 runs in the second match at Mullanpur, which allowed South Africa to level the series.
Chasing a daunting target of 214 runs, the home team was bowled out for 162 runs. Gautam Gambhir faced significant criticism for changing the batting order and making some questionable changes.
The home team will aim to take the lead when they face South Africa in the third T20I on Sunday. Tilak, who bowled a determined 62 off 34 balls, came forward to defend Gambhir’s strategy and stated that the batting line-up, including himself as well as the openers, was adaptable.
“Absolutely, everyone is flexible except the openers. I am ready to bat at No. 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherever the team wants me. Everyone knows that the batting order is flexible,” Tilak told reporters at the pre-match conference.
He also approved Axar’s decision to bat at No. 3 position at Mullanpur, stating that he had previously scored 47 off 31 balls while batting at No. 5 in the 2025 Men’s T20 World Cup final against the same team. He explained that other batsmen are ready to bat at any position depending on the situation.
“It depends on the situation. You have already seen this with Axar Patel in the World Cup; he moved up the order and did well. One-off games happen. Everyone keeps the team first, whatever feels best for the team at that time. Nobody thinks about individual positions. I have said that I am ready to bat anywhere for the team and all the players feel the same,” he said.
The hosts have lost only one T20I at Dharamshala dating back to 2015, but have a 2-1 head-to-head record there having beaten Sri Lanka twice in 2022. Their match against the Proteas in 2019 was cancelled.
Teams
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (C), Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Quinton de Kock (WK), Donovan Ferreira (WK), Tristan Stubbs, Ottneil Baartman, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje.
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