120 strike rate, just three sixes: SKY notes Tilak 'told to bat that way' in T20 World Cup

Suryakumar Yadav (R) interacts with Tilak Varma during a net session at Narendra Modi Stadium on February 17, 2026 in Ahmedabad, Bharat. (Photo/Getty Images)

on Saturday defended Tilak Varma despite his modest returns in the T20 Global Cup league stage, saying the batter is following instructions given by the team management.

Tilak’s strike rate, which is above 141 in his career, has dropped to the 120s in this tournament. He has struggled against slow bowlers on surfaces where the ball has gripped more. Across four matches, he has managed only 11 boundaries and three sixes and has not been able to shift gears after settling in.

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The The country captain said Tilak’s approach is part of a defined role.

"I mean I have told him, the team management has told him that he has to bat that way.

If one wicket is down, then he is definitely, he can go and have his own game in the powerplay," Surya said.

"But as soon as two wickets are down, then he has to take a little bit of backseat, get a partnership again, get to the 10th over and then we have enough firepower to continue and take on the bowling," the Indian skipper explained the rationale behind the approach although it wasn't exactly convincing.

He added that Tilak himself would expect more from his performances.

"Definitely, I am sure he must not be happy with how he is batting right now, I am sure. He must be and he has practiced a lot as well in the last 2-3 practice sessions. But I don't have any concern regarding him. He has been delivering for India at No. 3 really well and I am very confident that he will do it better."

"You mean, I should make him (Samson) play for Tilak?" he laughed.

He said India’s scoring in the powerplay has been normal but expectations remain high.

"It's going well in powerplay. We're making 40-50 runs. That's normal cricket. Now we've played so well in bilaterals. It happens. We also have expectations of ourselves. Expectation to make 220, 240, 250," he said.

"But wickets are a little different here (in the World Cup). The four wickets we have played on so far were a little different and challenging.

Off-spinners were not bowling earlier but are bowling now. So we have started preparation for that and hopefully we will tackle it as we start our Super 8 journey."

The captain said he is confident in the bowling unit, especially when defending totals around 175 to 180.

"I do take a lot of pride in my bowling unit. I know that on a given day, if we ever make 170, 175, or 180 because of the high risk, high reward game we are trying to play, then we have a good bowling attack which can save the match, it can triumph that game," he said.

"Look, I never thought that this team will make scores like 250, 270, 220, 230. But the way we're playing cricket now, you'll see in the future, if you see a start, then after that, everyone bats with the same template. But the day you don't get a start, that day you have to think about what the team needs."