T20 World Cup 2026: 'Will do what team needs' - Tilak Varma unperturbed by new batting role after Zimbabwe win

It seemed that India finally stumbled upon their best combination for the game against Zimbabwe in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, February 27.

Sanju Samson returned to the playing XI and played a morale-boosting cameo. Tilak Varma dropped down to No. 6 in the absence of Rinku Singh and scored an unbeaten 44 off just 16 balls. Axar Patel also had a decent outing with the ball on a belter of a track. He finished with figures of 1/35 in four overs.

Tilak had entered the match on the back of scores of 25, 25, 25, 31 and 1, which reflected starts without fluency, with his strike rate hovering under 120. However, he brought his A-game to the fore after moving down the order. Tilak said he is not bothered by the change in batting position and is happy to contribute to the team in whatever way possible. The southpaw also mentioned that he has played this role for his Indian Premier League (IPL) team - Mumbai Indians.

“I always say that whatever team needs, I'm up for it. So I've done the same role since the last four years in IPL for Mumbai Indians, and also I've done a few games for the Indian team. So I'm up for it. Whatever the team needs, I'm 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. Right time it has been given, but I am up for it. I am pretty confident now that going forward I can win the games for the team,” Tilak said at the post-match press conference.

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India posted a mammoth 256/4 in their 20 overs before restricting Zimbabwe to 184/6. The Men in Blue will now meet the West Indies on Sunday, March 1, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in what is a virtual quarterfinal.