India‘s young left-hander Tilak Varma is enduring a challenging phase in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, with expectations weighing heavily on his shoulders. After an impressive build-up to the tournament, the stylish batter has struggled to convert starts into impactful innings when the team needed him most.
Tilak Varma’s concerning form and mounting pressure
In the group stage, Tilak registered identical scores of 25 against USA, Namibia and Pakistan, followed by a 31 against Netherlands. While those knocks showed glimpses of composure, they lacked the fluency and authority that fans have come to associate with his batting. The real setback came in the Super 8 clash against South Africa, where he managed just 1 run before falling cheaply.
So far, Tilak has accumulated 107 runs in the tournament at a strike rate of 118.88 — a figure that has raised eyebrows in a format dominated by aggressive scoring. With India relying on a balanced approach in the middle order, his inability to play a defining innings has intensified scrutiny around his role.
Mohammad Kaif reveals how Tilak can rediscover his rhythm
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes the solution lies not in forcing big shots but in embracing responsibility. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif suggested that Tilak should resist outside noise and stick to his natural game.
“Tilak Varma has his own way of playing. He can afford to play with a slow strike rate. However, he got out while playing a big shot. There was pressure building on him for the strike rate. As a player, you do keep track of what is being said. But it is the job of the management to ask the player to stick to his role,” Kaif remarked.
Kaif further advised Tilak to model his approach on that of Virat Kohli, who retired from T20 internationals after the T20 World Cup 2024. Kohli had mastered the art of anchoring an innings, absorbing pressure and guiding India through tricky chases.
“He should play Virat Kohli’s role. He moved away from his gameplay by stepping out and going for a big shot. You’ll never be able to play if you listen to what others are saying,” Kaif added.
According to Kaif, India’s current XI already boasts explosive hitters like Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh. What the team lacks, he argued, is a batter willing to take the innings deep and bat through the 20 overs.
“To become a chase master, you will have to first bat till the 20th over. Tilak Varma got out early, trying to hit. What is your role? Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Rinku Singh play attacking cricket. There should be at least one player who takes the game deep,” Kaif emphasized.
India’s semifinal hopes hanging by a thread
Tilak’s form concerns come at a time when the team itself is under immense pressure. India are in a precarious position in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup following a crushing 76-run defeat to South Africa on February 22, 2026. It marked India’s heaviest-ever loss in T20 World Cup history.
The heavy margin has severely dented India’s Net Run Rate, which now stands at a worrying -3.80. In a tightly contested Super Eight group, such a deficit could prove fatal in the event of a three-way tie.
To stay alive in the tournament, India must now win their remaining Super Eight matches against Zimbabwe and West Indies — and do so convincingly. Large-margin victories are essential to repair their NRR and keep semifinal hopes intact.
