India batter Tilak Varma has backed coach Gautam Gambhir’s idea that the batting order, except the openers, should be flexible.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference before the third T20I, India’s Asia Cup 2025 final hero said that he is ready to bat wherever the team needs him.
“Absolutely, everyone is flexible except the openers. I’m ready to bat at No. 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherever the team wants me. Everyone knows the batting order is flexible.”
There has been a debate over whether the idea of a flexible batting order is right or wrong in the cricketing world. In the second match of the ongoing series against South Africa in New Chandigarh, Axar Patel was promoted to No. 3 when India lost Shubman Gill in the first over. The experiment failed as Axar could only score 21 off 21 balls at a strike rate of 100.
However, Tilak supported Axar’s promotion in the batting line-up by giving an example of his performance in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup last year. The all-rounder scored 47 off 31 balls in that match and was the second-highest run-scorer for India after Virat Kohli.
“It depends on the situation. You’ve already seen this with Axar Patel in the World Cup—he went up the order and did well. One-off games happen. At that time, whatever feels best for the team, everyone keeps the team first. No one thinks about individual positions. I’ve said I’m ready to bat anywhere for the team, and all players are thinking the same way.”
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