T20 World Cup 2026: Should India drop Tilak Varma to improve balance and boost their chances in the knockout stages?
With 107 runs at a strike rate of 118.88, Tilak Varma has gone through a rough patch since his return from injury in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. Although the management tried various players at number three during the home series against South Africa and New Zealand, they were quite clear about going back to Tilak once fit to return. But that move has backfired so far.
Against the Proteas in the Super Eight clash, the left-handed batter had a chance to bail them out of trouble during the 188-run chase. But a wrong shot in the second over of the innings sent him back to the pavilion for one run. As is often the case in Indian cricket, a string of failures has once again raised questions about whether the management will persist with him or consider dropping him ahead of their next encounter.
Read More: T20 World Cup 2026: Tilak Varma’s strike rate cause of concern
Tilak Varma’s low strike rate of 118.88 cause for concern
Since September 2025, six India players of the top seven have featured in 15 or more T20I innings. Among them, Tilak has the lowest batting strike rate. The southpaw has clubbed 541 runs in 18 innings at an average of 38.64 and a strike rate of 126.40 with three fifties.
The issue has continued in the T20 World Cup 2026. Among the Super Eight teams, Tilak has carried the fifth-lowest strike rate among the top six batters (minimum of 50 balls). The Hyderabad-born has bagged only 11 boundaries and three sixes in the process.
Lowest SR among top 6 in T20 WC 2026 Super 8 (min 50 balls faced)
| Player | Inns | Runs | SR | Avg | 4s/6s |
| B King (WI) | 05 | 71 | 104.41 | 14.20 | 08/02 |
| Chase (WI) | 03 | 58 | 107.40 | 29.00 | 08/00 |
| Buttler (ENG) | 05 | 60 | 113.20 | 12.00 | 07/01 |
| B Azam (PAK) | 05 | 66 | 115.78 | 22.00 | 05/01 |
| T Varma (IND) | 05 | 107 | 118.88 | 21.40 | 11/03 |
Tilak’s strike rate of 118.88 is India’s lowest among those who have faced 50 deliveries in the T20 WC 2026. Even his average of 21.80 isn’t great after five innings. But the biggest worry for the defending champions is the batter’s performance in the middle overs (7-15) of the competition.
In the nine-over period, the Mumbai Indians batter has collected only 32 runs in three innings. Moreover, he records an average of 10.67 and a strike rate of 86.49, with only one boundary and one six so far. Heading into the campaign, his role specifically was for the overs 7-15, and he has fallen flat in the job.
Read More: Numbers show India’s LHB-dominant batting line up has been vulnerable vs off-spin in T20 WC 2026
Batting strike rate for India in T20 WC 2026 (min 50 balls faced)
| Player | Inns | Runs | SR | Avg | 4s/6s |
| T Varma | 05 | 107 | 118.88 | 21.40 | 11/03 |
| S Yadav | 05 | 180 | 127.65 | 45.00 | 17/06 |
| H Pandya | 05 | 105 | 143.83 | 21.00 | 05/08 |
| S Dube | 05 | 158 | 154.90 | 31.60 | 09/11 |
| I Kishan | 05 | 176 | 193.40 | 35.20 | 19/11 |
Even at number three, Tilak couldn’t do well. He has the third-lowest strike rate of 118.88 among all the number three players who have played at least 50 balls in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Batting strike rate among number three batters in T20 WC 2026 (Min 50 balls)
| Player | Inns | Runs | SR | Avg | 4s/6s |
| H Tector (IRE) | 03 | 54 | 108.00 | 18.00 | 03/00 |
| A Sharafu (UAE) | 04 | 145 | 112.40 | 36.25 | 13/05 |
| T Varma (IND) | 05 | 107 | 118.88 | 21.40 | 11/03 |
| R Paudel (NEP) | 04 | 83 | 120.28 | 20.75 | 04/04 |
| L Loftie-Eaton (NAM) | 04 | 88 | 120.54 | 22.00 | 07/02 |
Sanju Samson to replace Tilak Varma for Zimbabwe clash?
The mode of dismissals for Tilak has been quite similar in the event. In the opening game against USA in Mumbai, his mistimed pull shot ended up in the hands of the mid-wicket fielder. Moving to Delhi against Namibia, the southpaw was foxed by the flighted delivery of Gerhard Erasmus.
It was followed by him getting trapped leg before the wickets off Saim Ayub’s bowling against Pakistan. Meanwhile, Tilak was on the wrong side of the stunning catch off Roelof van der Merwe against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad.
He doesn’t seem to be in great shape and on most occasions, it’s important to leave players out of form and bring freshness to the eleven. The management can think of bringing Sanju Samson into the team for their next Super Eight clash.
In that case, they will be able to utilise the left-right opening combination with Abhishek Sharma. The Kerala batter is set to receive a rousing reception from the crowd at his new IPL home, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Ishan Kishan can come down at number three. He recently scored a fine knock of 105 runs in 43 balls against the Blackcaps at that position, with the help of 10 sixes and six boundaries. That means he has familiarity with the situation.
India stand on thin ice at the moment after their 76-run defeat against the Proteas. Victory is the only option from here on for a potential qualification to the semifinal. They will be up against Zimbabwe on February 26 for their next encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Read More: Among Super 8 teams, India have the lowest run rate (6.91) in middle overs (7-15) in T20 WC 2026
