Here is the full transcript of India’s Tilak Varma’s press conference ahead of their February 12 match against Namibia in the FIFA World Cup T20 2026. (Reporter:) Tilak, how is Abhishek, who has been admitted to hospital? is he ok Is he still in the hospital or is he in the hotel with the team? (Tilak Verma:) When we reached Delhi, he went to the hospital for some tests. I think he was released today and is doing well. We have one more day until the game, so hopefully we will decide by tomorrow how he feels and proceed accordingly. (Reporter:) When you play against less experienced teams, their fielding, bowling speed and shot selection can be different. Does this make it difficult for teams like India to adjust? What adjustments do you need to make? (Tilak Verma:) Especially with these newer teams, you can’t take anyone lightly. You saw that in the last game. It wasn’t that we took them lightly, but we didn’t read the terms properly. Then Surya bhai came in and played a brilliant innings which helped the team a lot. At the same time, we should always support our fundamentals and play our best game. No matter the pitch or the situation, you have to read it ball by ball. T20 cricket is a very short format – anything can happen and any team can beat anyone. So it’s important to bring your A-game to every match. (Reporter:) Yesterday it was said that Jasprit Bumrah has resumed bowling after 10 days. He was in the networks for quite a long time. What is the update on him? Will he be available for tomorrow’s game? (Tilak Verma:) He is absolutely fine now. He’s doing better. As I said, we have one more day, so hopefully he will be back in the team. If he continues to improve, team management will chime in and I think he could be back for the second game. (Reporter:) Tilak bhai, there is a match tomorrow and after that another big one in Colombo. There was a lot of discussion about it. What did you think as a player? Was there any discussion about whether you would play or not? (Tilak Verma:) No sir. To be honest, we’re really excited to play now. We found out there was going to be a match and we were already preparing for it. We watched the opposition, studied their bowlers and prepared as batsmen. When we heard that the match was going to be played, all the players and staff were excited. We are now in match mode and the planning has begun. (Reporter:) Can you talk about your return from injury, playing the number three position and your new role compared to what you did before? (Tilak Verma:) Yes sir. I’m really happy to be back in the World Cup squad. For the last two or three weeks I have been working hard and following good practices. God was kind and I quickly returned to the field. My goal is to help the team win the World Cup. I am ready for any role the team wants me to play. I’ve always said I’m ready to hit wherever the team needs me. I am ready for any role and look forward to it. (Reporter:) When you were declared fit and started playing warm-up games, Surya said you came back a better player with a stronger mindset. What was your mindset like during rehab? Did the break help you reset before the big tournament? (Tilak Verma:) Firstly, if I have to sit for a few days without a bat in my hands, I feel very strange. I feel like I’m in another world. Every night before I go to bed, I imagine playing in big matches, even the World Cup final, and I get under pressure. It’s a habit from childhood. I’ve been playing for so many years that these thoughts come naturally before I fall asleep. So I’m not worried about breaks. My mind stays in the same positive zone. I’m still mentally preparing. I didn’t feel like I was out of the game because of the injury. I stayed in the zone, focused on winning matches and reacted to situations when I came back. (Reporter:) Do you want to experiment in tomorrow’s match and in Ahmedabad to find the perfect combination before the Super 8? (Tilak Verma:) There is still time for the Super 8 and the finals. We have to go match by match. We will focus on tomorrow’s game first. The main thing is what we can do well in that game. So we will think about it and approach the match accordingly. If all goes well, the rest will take care of itself. (Reporter:) After the innings, it is often said that the batting positions from three to five will be flexible. How do you view your batting position? Are you preparing for different roles? (Tilak Verma:) Like I said, I am ready to play any position. But I believe the middle overs are very important and should be handled by a settled batsman. I try to take the game deep, especially when we are chasing. We have a lot of overs up to number eight so someone needs to anchor the innings in the middle overs. I take that responsibility upon myself. Every match is different – the goal, the conditions, the bowlers. Even against the same team, every day is different. So I focus on the present and react to the situation instead of thinking too far ahead. (Reporter:) Going back to the Mumbai game, was the collapse more about reading the conditions or shot selection? How did 77 for 6 happen? (Tilak Verma:) To be honest, in the beginning, when Abhishek got out, I walked in and felt the ball coming in nicely on the bat. I thought the goal was fine, but it really wasn’t. I was just in the flow. Unfortunately, it happens. People also felt that it was played well. But after a few wickets were scored, we realized that we judged the pitch a bit late. We also had one or two soft exits. But the way Surya played was a masterclass. That’s the strength of this team. We haven’t lost a back-to-back series because someone always takes responsibility. That’s a big sign. In this tournament, especially in Super 8 or knockouts, such innings will be crucial. (Reporter:) Most of the players were champions in 2024, but for some, including you, this is the first World Cup. How is it different playing in your first World Cup, especially in India? (Tilak Verma:) Above all, it is a dream. Playing the World Cup in home conditions is very special. Opening the first match at the Wankhede was also special. Not every cricketer gets to experience this. At the same time, there is pressure because everyone expects you to win at home. In the last match we saw the support of the crowd. So there is expectation and pressure, but also strong support. It has advantages and disadvantages, but we have been dealing with pressure since childhood. We’re just enjoying it now and we’ll see how it goes. (Reporter:) India vs Pakistan is coming. Pakistan’s spinners are thriving in Colombo. What is your preparation and mindset for that match? (Tilak Verma:) We take it one game at a time. We will use video analysis and technology to study their pitchers and conditions. We have already started the preparation. We have all kinds of shots in the team, so depending on the goal and the situation, we decide whether to attack or play. We’ll pick the best team for the conditions and go from there. (Reporter:) Earlier it was said that only the top two positions were fixed, then there was flexibility. But now it looks like you and Surya are set for three and four. what changed (Tilak Verma:) World Cups come with great expectations and pressure. We did well on number three and four. In these positions we can find gaps and turn the strike. Our openers are aggressive and we have powerful batsmen in the order. So the middle overs become very important. I believe that the team that performs well between overs 6 and 16 usually wins the match. That’s why Surya and I take responsibility in these positions – to handle the pressure and set things up for the finishers. That’s the plan we talked about. (Reporter:) What did the head coach say in the locker room after a tough batting performance against the USA? (Tilak Verma:) To be honest, Gautam sir didn’t say much. He said it happens once in a while. We gave away a few goals in pressure situations. He told us we should read the terms and conditions first. We usually play with an aggressive approach, but when wickets fall, sometimes we have to hold back for a few overs before picking up the pace again, especially with our batting depth. He said that he will support whatever we decide to do as players and that we should continue to play with the same intensity. That was the main message.