Tilak Varma has a point. When asked how much confidence his recent match-winning knock against Pakistan gave him, the India vice-captain didn't give a humble answer. He pointed to his unbeaten 69 in the Asia Cup 2025 final, where he chased down 147 to lift the trophy. “(Performance against) Pakistan was good before too,” he said, with a cheeky grin. He’s not building momentum from zero; he’s been doing this all along.
Batting in the middle order is a gamble. You don’t get a long innings; you get a fire-fighting role. Varma knows this. “Whenever I go to bat at No. 5 to 7 in the lower order, I don't get much batting. And even if I get it, I get it under a lot of pressure,” he explained. His approach isn’t about survival. It’s about finishing. “I try to win the game. I try to finish the game,” he said, emphasizing that his focus is on scoring runs to help the team win, not just surviving the pressure.
He’s built a reputation for staying calm in the deep end. Varma remains unbeaten in successful T20 chases, a stat that speaks volumes about his temperament. But he’s quick to clarify that nerves don’t just vanish with experience. “I can't say stress. There is always pressure and nerves. Till the last day of your cricket career, pressure will always be on you,” he admitted. The trick, he says, is making it a habit to manage those nerves. Whether it’s breathing exercises or talking to settle down, every player has their own method.
Now, the focus shifts to Auckland. India heads into the fourth T20I at Eden Park, where the short boundaries often turn matches into high-scoring affairs. The Black Caps will be looking to keep the series alive, but Varma’s ability to absorb pressure and deliver in the middle overs could be the difference. India will look to maintain their momentum and secure a series-clinching win in front of a packed crowd.