Auckland, October 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s T20I vice-captain Tilak Varma says he is enjoying his leadership responsibilities and regularly shares tactical inputs with skipper Shreyas Iyer to help the team manage pressure in high-scoring matches.
Tilak was appointed vice-captain after the 2026 T20 World Cup, when Iyer took over as India’s T20I captain. The left-handed batter brings leadership experience from captaining Hyderabad across formats and leading India A sides.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the fourth T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park, Tilak said his previous captaincy experience had helped him understand the demands of the role.
“I have done (captaincy) in every format for my state. And for a year now, I have done (captaincy) for India A too. So, I have that experience. I have that knowledge. Whatever message I can pass, I always convey it on the field to Shreyas,” he said.
Tilak noted that the pressure of modern T20 cricket makes communication between players and the captain particularly important.
“T20 is a pressure game. Especially, nowadays there is always pressure as games are very high scoring. So, as a captain, it is difficult to cover everything. So, I communicate with Iyer where I can help him. He also asks. So, I am enjoying those small roles,” he added.
The 23-year-old also spoke about his enthusiasm for fielding. During the ongoing series against New Zealand, he set a record for the most catches taken by a fielder in a single calendar year, with 26 in 2026. He surpassed the previous mark of 25, set by Indonesia’s Danilson Hawoe in 2025.
Tilak said he had enjoyed fielding since childhood and did not consider long hours on the field a burden, even in challenging overseas conditions.
He added that the team’s confidence in his catching ability often sees him positioned in key fielding areas, giving him more opportunities to save runs and take catches.
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