‘Even vice-captains are out’: Tilak Varma bluntly warns former Indian cricketer

India’s Tilak Varma (AP/PTI photo) ( Tilak Varma may have earned one of the biggest promotions of his career, but former India batsman Mohammad Kaif has reminded the youngster that vice-captaincy is no guarantee in the current set-up of the Indian team.The 23-year-old left-hander was recently named India’s new T20I vice-captain after a significant change in leadership despite the team’s T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year. In a major change, Suryakumar Yadav was stripped of the captaincy and left out of the squad, with Shreyas Iyer taking command. Axar Patel, who was serving as vice-captain, also lost his role as the selectors turned to Tilak.While the appointment underlines the team management’s confidence in Tilaka, Kaif believes the youngster cannot afford to assume that a leadership position guarantees him a regular spot in the team. Kaif pointed out on his YouTube channel that recent examples prove that lead roles offer little protection if performances fall flat.“Tilak Varma is the vice-captain, yes. But vice-captains have been dropped before. Being the vice-captain doesn’t mean Tilak Varma’s place in the team is guaranteed. If Tilak starts thinking, ‘I’m the vice-captain, my place is assured,’ that’s just not how this Indian team works. If he wanted a bit of form, he could have kept him in the game. Axar Patel was the vice-captain earlier.Kaif’s comments come in the backdrop of several recent casting decisions. Shubman Gill, despite serving as India’s vice-captain during several T20I missions, eventually lost his place in the format and missed the T20 World Cup squad. Also, Axar was replaced in the management group after the last overhaul.According to Kaif, the current management of the team has created a culture where every player, regardless of reputation or designation, must continue to perform consistently to keep his place.“So no one’s place is guaranteed in this Indian team. Not even the captain’s. There is no permanent vice-captain either. Everyone has to earn their place. Everyone has to perform in every single match. This is a phase of Indian cricket that we have never seen before. That is the mindset of the coaches and selectors now. Your place in the team is on the line with every one of his places in Varma’s team, but that is why Tilak is starting in X. no means guaranteed for the future,” he added.