India’s assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate reckons Tilak Varma is ideally suited to bat at No. 6, contemplating the hosts want firepower at the back-end of the innings.
But that’s not essentially going to be the case within the do-or-die Super 8 conflict of the T20 World Cup 2026 towards the West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Sunday (March 1).
For the primary 5 video games, Tilak’s method at No. 3 was extra of an anchor, with 107 runs and a strike fee of 118. However, sending him at No. 6 within the Super 8 match towards Zimbabwe labored wonders because the southpaw hammered 44 off simply 16 balls with three fours and 4 sixes.
“No, it’s not a foregone conclusion that he’ll bat at 5 – 6 tomorrow. I believed the opposite evening, Tilak, he appeared like a quantity six. He appeared like somebody who’s actually snug at a 10-over entry level.
“And I think that’s a massive kudos to him, the way he’s adapted his game. I don’t think he’s been short on form,” Ten Doeschate mentioned within the pre-match presser, as quoted by PTI.
Tilak launched a brutal assault on the Zimbabwean bowlers proper from the phrase go after coming to the crease within the fifteenth over.
“I thought that was to look back to his old Tilak and play the situation beautifully. So it’s comforting to know that we have a little bit more power down the middle,” the assistant coach added.
Ten Doeschate expects the West Indies suppose tank to deliver again left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein towards India and play the catch-up sport.
“They (West Indies) might play Chase. They might play Akeal. We kind of bank on them playing Chase. So we have got different entry points for the guys ideally where they come in.”
Ten Doeschate additionally sympathized with Tilak Varma, who had undergone stomach surgical procedure main as much as the T20 World Cup.
“I mentioned before, spending four weeks on the sideline, coming into the tournament and slowly building up is kind of what you expect,” the Dutchman noticed.
“Like I always say, the link between getting out of the blocks quickly and setting up for the back end is the key to India’s success. And it’s nice to know that Tilak can perform those roles,” Ten Doeschate mentioned.
(With PTI Inputs)
