India vice-captain Tilak Varma has addressed the team's recent slump in T20I cricket. The T20 World Cup champions failed to win a single game on their tour of the United Kingdom, losing every match across two separate series.

India were blanked 2-0 by Ireland in Dublin before suffering a 4-0 defeat to Harry Brook's England. It was a stark reversal of fortunes for a side boasting several proven match-winners. Not only did India look underprepared, but the think tank also appeared to run out of ideas.

Speaking ahead of India's three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, Tilak argued that the team's poor run was largely down to a lack of exposure to overseas conditions.

"Honestly, if you see, Shreyas bhai is leading a successful team right now. So, of course, there will be responsibilities and expectations. At the same point, there were different conditions in Ireland. If you look at the last two years, we played more matches in Asia," Tilak said before the series.

"And after two years, we came straight to the overseas conditions, that too against a good side. England is a very good side. We all saw how they played in the semifinals of the T20 World Cup. So, of course, it will be challenging to play in good conditions against a good side," he added.

The argument, however, does not entirely add up. Before the T20 World Cup 2026, India had played overseas T20I series in South Africa (November 2024) and Australia (October 2025). In the build-up to the World Cup, they also hosted South Africa and New Zealand at home.

It is true, however, that this was the first time this group had travelled to England for a T20I series since 2022.

TILAK VARMA UNDER CRITICISM

The India vice-captain has himself come under scrutiny for his modest returns with the bat during the Ireland and England tour. However, it is worth noting that Tilak was moved away from his preferred No. 3 position and asked to bat at No. 5 or No. 6, roles that do not naturally suit his game.

Tilak explained that his subdued outings were a consequence of adapting to the team's requirements rather than playing his natural attacking game. With India's top order repeatedly collapsing in Ireland and England, he felt it was his responsibility to stabilise the innings instead of looking to attack from the outset.

"In this game, you have to bat in different places, and especially in such conditions, it's not easy. At the same point, I always say that I do whatever is required for the team. If I have to play the waiting game for the team, then I will play accordingly. If I have to hit, then I hit and play.

"So at that time, in the conditions of the team, if you look at it, from Ireland to England, you always had four or five wickets falling in the power play. So going there and hitting and getting out, it doesn't make a lot of sense."

While he admitted that his instinct is always to attack from the very first ball, Tilak said the added responsibility of being vice-captain meant he had to make smarter decisions for the team's benefit.

"So that's what I always have in my mind, that I can go and hit the first ball. But at the same point, I'm playing for the country, so there are a lot of responsibilities.

"When you have a vice-captaincy attached to your name, the team must have given me that after due deliberation. So I want to take the same responsibilities that the management gives me, so I'm playing according to that," Tilak said.

ZIMBABWE VS INDIA

India will now look to put their disappointing tour behind them when they face Zimbabwe in a three-match T20I series. While India are fielding a near full-strength squad this time around, Tilak expects the hosts to provide a stern challenge, recalling how Zimbabwe had stunned a young Indian side by winning the opening match of last year's series.

"Zimbabwe is also a very good team. They are a very competitive team. And you see last year when we started the series, they won the first game. We expect them to come hard at us."

Tilak also believes India's recent experience of playing in similar conditions in Ireland and England could work in their favour.

"As you can see, the wickets were good last time around. So I was talking to them, because when we played in Zimbabwe last year, our junior team came in. So at that time, almost a lot of people from that team are still here.

"So I was talking to them (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi) about how the wicket will behave. At the same point, again, we have played two series, Ireland and England. So if you look at the ground, the dimensions are very big, and it's windy and the conditions are cool. It would be an advantage having played here."

India are playing Zimbabwe in a 3-match T20I series. The first match of the tour starts on Thursday, 23 July.

- Ends

Published By:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published On:

Jul 21, 2026 20:16 IST