India T20I vice-captain Tilak Varma brushed aside talk of a newfound confidence against Pakistan on 29 October in Auckland, cheekily reminding reporters that his record against the arch-rivals was already well established — long before his latest match-winning cameo at the Asian Games final.

The cheeky response that set the tone

Speaking ahead of India's fourth T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland, Tilak was asked what boost he had drawn from his 51 not out off 22 balls against Pakistan in the Asian Games final earlier this month. His reply was disarming. 'Performance against Pakistan was good before too,' he said, pointing to his unbeaten 69 in the Asia Cup 2025 final — a knock that steered India to a famous win in a 147-run chase.

'Whenever I go to bat at No. 5 to 7 in the lower order, I don't get much batting. And even if I get it, I get it under a lot of pressure. So, till now, whenever I get a chance, I try to win the game,' Tilak said.

The mindset behind the clutch performances

Tilak was emphatic that the Pakistan game had not triggered a sudden surge in self-belief. 'After the Pakistan game, I have the same confidence. There is no change. It's not like I was not scoring for 10 matches and then I scored against Pakistan straightaway,' he said. The left-handed batter added that his singular focus remains contributing to team victories regardless of the occasion or the opponent.

'I always want to help the team win. It's simple. And there is such a good atmosphere in the team. There is such good backing. So, in my mind, it remains: how can I win every match for the team?' he said.

An unbeaten record in T20 chases

Tilak also carries a remarkable statistical footnote: he has not lost a single T20I match when he has remained unbeaten in a chase — a record that adds weight to his reputation as one of India's most reliable finishers. In the second T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch, he reinforced that reputation with an unbeaten 51 off 26 balls, guiding India to a four-wicket win off the penultimate delivery while successfully chasing 181.

Managing pressure — 'It has become a habit'

On the subject of pressure, Tilak was candid. He acknowledged that nerves are a permanent fixture in professional cricket but said he has developed his own mechanisms to channel them. 'There is always pressure and nerves. Till the last day of your cricket career, pressure will always be on you,' he said.

'But it has become a habit to manage it. Every individual has a different way. Some people breathe. Some talk a little more in between to settle those nerves. I also have my own way,' he added. He also shared a telling mental cue he uses in the death overs: believing that the bowler, not the batter, carries the heavier burden. '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,' he said.

With the fourth T20I against New Zealand approaching at Eden Park, all eyes will be on whether Tilak adds yet another clutch outing to a growing list.