Dharamsala, Dec 13 (NationPress) In the lead-up to the third T20I against South Africa, India's left-handed batsman Tilak Varma emphasized that mental fortitude is key for a batter to perform well, regardless of their batting order position. The Indian team's recent decision to send Axar Patel in at the number three spot during a chase of 214 in New Chandigarh raised eyebrows.

Axar faced challenges with his rhythm, managing only 21 runs off 21 balls, as India ultimately fell short by 51 runs. While notable players like Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav struggled to find their form, Tilak provided a glimmer of hope with an impressive 62 runs off just 34 deliveries.

“Everyone is adaptable except for the openers. I’m open to batting at 3, 4, 5, 6, or wherever the team sees fit. If you possess a strong mindset, you can thrive at any position,” Tilak stated during the pre-match press conference.

When questioned about the rationale behind sending Axar to bat ahead of established players, including himself, Tilak replied, “It varies. Axar has performed well in this role during the World Cup. Decisions like these depend on specific game situations, and if the team believes it’s the best move, then it’s made with the team’s interests in mind.”

“There are ups and downs, but the same player has succeeded in the World Cup. I’m willing to bat anywhere for the team and will always strive to deliver my best. Other players are on the same page, and we’re making decisions that benefit the team,” he added.

The HPCA Stadium is known for producing high-scoring pitches, and Tilak believes that batting first or second won’t significantly impact the match outcome. “I’ve previously played here in the Under-19 series for India. I feel this wicket will favor high scores. We will approach the game positively,” he noted.

“In the first two matches, the team batting first emerged victorious. The cold weather provides some seam and swing for bowlers, so I think there isn’t much difference between batting first or second. Unfortunately, we faltered in the last game, but we’ll maintain our positive intent,” he remarked.

“We plan to replicate the strategies that have worked for us in the last 15-20 matches to achieve favorable results. Thus, it won’t matter if we bat first or second, as the match starts at 7 PM when dew begins to form,” he added.

Tilak concluded by mentioning that the Indian team has effectively prepared to tackle the dew anticipated during the match.

“Dew was present during ODIs too, and we’ve mentally prepared for it in our practice sessions. While we can’t control the toss outcome, we are ready for dew conditions. We’ve practiced for this, and we are prepared for whatever challenges arise during the game,” he stated.