India‘s young left-hander Tilak Varma is facing a tough time in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, with high expectations on him. After an encouraging lead-up to the tournament, the batsman has struggled to turn good starts into significant performances when they are most needed.
Tilak Varma’s troubling form and increasing pressure
In the group stage, Tilak scored 25 runs against USA, Namibia, and Pakistan, followed by 31 against Netherlands. While these scores showed some promise, they lacked the fluency expected from him. The biggest disappointment came during the Super 8 match against South Africa, where he managed only 1 run before being out.
To date, Tilak has scored 107 runs in the tournament with a strike rate of 118.88, a number that has drawn attention in a format where aggressive scoring is key. With India counting on a balanced middle order, his failure to play a standout innings has raised questions about his role.
Mohammad Kaif suggests how Tilak can regain his form
Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes the answer lies in taking responsibility rather than forcing big shots. On his YouTube channel, Kaif suggested that Tilak should ignore outside criticism and focus on his natural style of play.
“Tilak Varma has his own style. He can play at a slower strike rate. However, he got out trying to hit a big shot under pressure. As a player, you notice what people say, but it’s management’s role to guide the player in sticking to their game,” Kaif explained.
Kaif further recommended that Tilak emulate Virat Kohli, who stepped back from T20 internationals after the T20 World Cup 2024. Kohli excelled at anchoring innings and handling pressure during challenging situations.
“He should take on a Virat Kohli-like role. He deviated from his game plan by going for a big hit. You won’t succeed if you focus on outside opinions,” Kaif added.
Kaif noted that India’s current lineup already includes aggressive players like Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Rinku Singh. What the team needs is a player willing to play a longer innings and bat through all 20 overs.
“To excel in chasing, you need to last till the 20th over. Tilak Varma got out early while trying to score quickly. What is your role? Others like Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan play aggressively. There must be at least one player who can extend the innings,” Kaif pointed out.
India’s semifinal chances at risk
Tilak’s poor form comes at a critical time for the team. India is in a tough spot in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after suffering a significant 76-run loss to South Africa on February 22, 2026. This was India’s largest loss in T20 World Cup history.
This defeat has seriously affected India’s Net Run Rate, which now stands at -3.80. In a competitive Super Eight group, such a deficit could be detrimental in the event of a tie.
To remain in the tournament, India must win their next Super Eight matches against Zimbabwe and West Indies convincingly. They need to secure large-margin victories to improve their NRR and keep their semifinal hopes alive.
