India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has provided an update on Tilak Varma’s batting position ahead of their upcoming Super 8 match against the West Indies cricket team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Eden Gardens. Varma was shifted to number six in the previous match against the Zimbabwe national cricket team and during his explosive cameo, he produced a blistering 44 off just 16 deliveries, hitting three fours and four sixes.
Varma was involved in a commanding partnership of 84 runs off just 41 balls for the fifth wicket along with Hardik Pandya, giving India a perfect end to their innings. However, despite his excellent performance with the bat, ten Doeschate said the youngster is not guaranteed to bat in the same position in the upcoming match as the side now has some flexible options within the batting order.
“It’s not a given that he will bat at No. 5 or No. 6 tomorrow. We have options now. We have seen it work with Sanju Samson at the top. Depending on the opponent’s combination, we can adapt. I thought Tilak looked very comfortable when he got around the 10-over mark. That’s a huge credit to him and the way he adapted his game,” he told Doesmatchate during the pre-match press conference.
Ten Doeschate also noted that it was encouraging to see Varma back to his best and praised him for providing valuable flexibility in the batting lineup.
“He is not out of form. It is normal to spend four weeks on the sidelines and build up gradually. It was great to see him back to his best and play the situation brilliantly. It is reassuring to know that we have strength in the middle order. The combination of a strong start and a good finish is key to India’s success and Tilak gives us flexibility in both roles,” he added.
India in a must win situation
Meantime, India find themselves in a must win situation against the West Indies after losing their opening Super 8 match to the South African national cricket team. However, the Proteas helped India’s prospects by comprehensively beating the West Indies as well.
As a result, India now simply need to beat the West Indies by any margin to progress to the semi-finals. The Men in Blue do not have a strong record against the Caribbean side in the T20 World Cup, having won just one of the four matches played between the two teams in the history of the tournament. Hence, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side will have history going against them as they head into this crucial encounter.
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Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
28 Feb 2026 18:57 IST
