Tilak Varma Defends Strike Rate After England, Ireland Whitewashes
India's vice-captain explains his approach amid criticism following back-to-back T20I series defeats.
Tilak Varma has broken his silence on the strike rate criticism that followed India's T20I series losses in England and Ireland. The Indian vice-captain, who is set to continue in the role for the upcoming Zimbabwe series, clarified that his batting style is dictated by the team's needs rather than personal metrics.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the first T20I against Zimbabwe, Varma emphasised that he adapts to different batting positions and challenging conditions. "If I have to grind it out for the team, I do that. If I have to attack from the first ball, I do that," he said. He pointed out that during the tours, India often lost four to five wickets inside the powerplay or first 10 overs, making it illogical to accelerate recklessly.
Varma also highlighted the added responsibility of being vice-captain, which requires assessing the team's situation before deciding whether to accelerate or preserve wickets. "I'm playing for the country, so there are a lot of responsibilities," he added. His comments come after India suffered back-to-back whitewashes, ending a three-year unbeaten streak in T20I series.