Live Update: Tilak Varma reveals that number three is his favorite batting position and opens the transition to the middle order. The Indian vice-ctain has played every position from number one to six but says he is most comfortable at number three.
Tilak Varma reveals number three is his favorite batting position and opens up about transition to middle order (Source: BCCI) Tilak Varma has revealed number three is his favorite batting position as he opens up about the difficulty of getting used to batting in the lower middle order for India in T20 Internationals. The left-hander made these comments ahead of the ongoing India vs West Indies T20I series that began on October 6, 2026 in Lucknow, where he serves as vice-ctain. Tilak, who made his T20I debut against West Indies on August 3, 2023, has since played a wide range of positions, from opener to number six.
Despite this, he revealed that his favorite batting position is the top position and said that he has been an opener since his childhood. “I always say that I prefer to bat in the front row. I always like to hit number three.
From opening, in the Under-19 World Cup, I played at number three. After that, I played at number four in the IPL, then number five and number six. So I continued to play practically all positions.
I have been an opener since childhood. So if you tell me to open now too, I will do it. But I really like hitting threes,” Tilak said on JioStar. Why was the transition to the lower order difficult for Tilak Varma?
Tilak has been used primarily in the lower middle order for India since the UK tour in June 2026. In 16 T20I innings during this period, 15 finished at number five or lower. He scored 327 runs in these pearances at an average of 46.71 and a strike rate of 145.33, reflecting a strong adtation to the demands of the role.
Despite these numbers, he was open about the mental and technical effort required to make this change. Lower shot mechanics are significantly different from three or four shot mechanics, with older balls, slower balls and yorkers being more prominent. He tackled this challenge head on.
“From the opening to the third you can easily continue because it won’t make much difference. Three to four doesn’t make much of a difference either. When you’re a number three or four player and then you bat at six or seven, that transition was really difficult.
At the same time, when the team needs it, you don’t have anything else. You have to earn this job. To achieve this, I worked a lot on myself in training and mentally worked on how I could hit calmly.
If you bat early, bowlers will hit the seam more often. As you hit deeper, the mechanics change; The ball is getting older and slower balls and yorkers are being played. All of these things play a role.
So I mentally prepared myself accordingly and accepted that I had to play here. After I did that, I worked on it in practice. Once that translates into a game, you get that confidence and it goes from there,” he said.
How does Tilak Varma prepare mentally for a game? Tilak’s figures of fifth and sixth in T20Is since June 2026 underline the results of his preparation. He finished fifth in ten pearances, scoring 236 runs at an average of 59 and a strike rate of 139.64, including three half-centuries.
In four innings at number six, he averaged 44.50 and struck out 171.15. A key part of his proach is conducting a detailed mental exercise before every game. He thinks through the opposition bowling attack, anticipates match situations and visualises his innings before going to sleep.
“When there’s a game coming up, like if there’s a game tomorrow, I imagine; I think about the opposition bowlers. What kind of bowlers could emerge? Before I fall asleep, I just imagine myself walking in this position.
I always think about how I can win the game for the team. I line up like this and think, “He’s their best bowler.” How can I attack it? When I thought about it, I was already ready.
Then when I go on the field I’m not surprised and say, “Oh, I came in and this bowler came in, now the ball does that, his best ball is this.” I always prepare for the best. Then when another bowler comes in, it becomes easier if you prepare for the best. I always imagine and do it and it really helps me and the results are visible,” he said.
