India’s poor run in T20Is has brought the spotlight squarely on both the players and the new leadership group, with captain Shreyas Iyer and vice-captain Tilak Varma yet to spark a turnaround. The team is still searching for its first win on the UK tour after losing the series to Ireland and slipping to a 0-2 deficit against England, who have already sealed the series with games to spare. The downturn has come as a surprise for a side that lifted the T20 World Cup just a couple of months ago.
Since that triumph, India have undergone significant changes. Suryakumar Yadav was replaced as captain and later omitted from the squad, while Axar Patel was stripped of the vice-captaincy. Those decisions, coupled with a string of disappointing results, have intensified scrutiny and increased the pressure on a team that was recently celebrating a global title.
India’s repeated batting failures on the UK tour have also put vice-captain Tilak Varma under the scanner, with the left-hander struggling to make a meaningful impact. Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth did not mince words in his assessment, questioning Tilak’s place in the XI and suggesting that Sanju Samson would have been a better option.
“He’s already the vice-captain, and it looks like he’ll soon become the captain also. Tilak Varma might have himself said he doesn’t want to go out, seeing the pace and bounce. Tilak Varma is clueless. I would rather play Sanju Samson himself instead of Tilak Varma,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
Since being appointed vice-captain, Tilak has registered scores of 19, 55, 13, 24 not out and 3, but has struggled to deliver a decisive contribution. His only notable effort remains a fighting 55 against Ireland, which came in a narrow one-run defeat. Since then, he has been unable to build on his starts in England, with innings of 13, 24 not out and 3 doing little to revive India’s faltering batting unit.
