India vice-captain Tilak Varma has revealed how shifting down the batting order — from No. 3 to No. 5 or even No. 6 — has fundamentally reshaped his mindset at the crease, with the left-hander now approaching each innings with an aggressive, boundary-first intent. Speaking ahead of the fourth T20I against New Zealand in Auckland, Varma said the transition has made him a more adaptable, situationally aware batter.

The New Mindset at No. 5

'I already had the power game; I have scored runs at number three as well. Now, batting at number five or six, I think about going for a boundary off the very first ball only if it's there to be hit. Otherwise, I focus on taking the game deep,' Varma said. He added that patience still plays a role: 'Initially, I focus on singles and doubles, finding gaps for fours or two runs.'

The finisher's role demands a sharp reading of match situations — a skill Varma has evidently developed. His ability to toggle between aggression and calculated accumulation has made him one of India's most reliable middle-order resources in the shortest format.

Match-Winning 51 in Christchurch

Varma's evolution at No. 5 was on full display in the second T20I at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, where he struck an unbeaten 51 off 26 balls to steer India to a four-wicket win, chasing a stiff 181 with just one ball remaining. He added an unbroken 69-run stand for the seventh wicket alongside Nitish Reddy.

Reflecting on that partnership, Varma said: 'I just told Nitish, if we pull the match off from here, it's going to be immense fun. Let's just stay out there, take the game deep, and see what happens.' His mental framing in the death overs is equally revealing: 'In the end overs, as a batter, the bowler is under far more pressure than I am. That positive thought is constantly running in my head, that the bowler is under more pressure, so they are bound to leak runs.'

Adjusting to New Zealand Conditions

India arrived in New Zealand with minimal acclimatisation time following a home T20I series against the West Indies, and Varma acknowledged the adjustment challenge — but was clear-eyed about expectations. 'At this level, we cannot make excuses. We are at the highest level, and we need to set standards for the youngsters who look up to us,' he said.

He also credited team director Gautam Gambhir for providing clear direction: 'Gautam sir made it clear in team meetings that this is a long tour and the standard we set as a T20 side will provide momentum for the ODI and Test squads.'

Eyes on a Historic 5-0 Series Sweep

India sealed the five-match series with two matches still to play, after a stunning third T20I in Wellington where opener Abhishek Sharma blazed 113 and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added 45. The pair put on 118 runs in the powerplay — six overs — as India chased down 199 in just 13.2 overs.

With the series already won at 3-0, Varma said the squad has set its sights on a clean sweep. 'We are thinking this is a great opportunity to achieve a clean sweep. The next goal is to win the upcoming match and give the Indian crowd a great chance to witness a 5-0 series win,' he said. The fourth T20I is scheduled for Friday in Auckland, with India firmly in command.