India's T20I vice-captain Tilak Varma said on 29 October 2026 that he is relishing his leadership responsibilities alongside skipper Shreyas Iyer, describing how he actively communicates on the field to ease the captain's burden during high-pressure T20 encounters. The remarks came at the pre-match press conference ahead of India's fourth T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland.

How the vice-captaincy role took shape

Tilak was elevated to the vice-captaincy as part of a leadership restructuring that installed Shreyas Iyer as T20I captain following the T20 World Cup 2026. The appointment was not made in a vacuum — Tilak brings genuine leadership pedigree, having captained his state side Hyderabad across all three formats and led India A teams for the better part of a year before the elevation.

'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,' Tilak said.

The pressure of modern T20 cricket

Tilak acknowledged the unique demands that the T20 format places on a captain, noting that today's high-scoring matches make it nearly impossible for the skipper to manage every variable alone. '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 statement reflects a broader trend in Indian cricket where distributed on-field decision-making has become a hallmark of teams that perform well under pressure in the shortest format.

Record-breaking fielding in 2026

Beyond the vice-captaincy, Tilak has been making headlines with his fielding during the ongoing New Zealand series. He set a new record for the most catches by a fielder in a single calendar year, taking his 2026 tally to 26 catches — surpassing the previous mark of 25 held by Indonesia's Danilson Hawoe from the previous year.

'I have been a good fielder since childhood. Whenever I practice fielding, I never look at it as a burden. When playing overseas, there's wind, cold weather, and the ball wobbles in the air, but I've always genuinely enjoyed fielding,' Tilak said.

Fielding philosophy and team trust

Tilak elaborated on what drives his fielding excellence, attributing it to athleticism, genuine enjoyment, and a willingness to take responsibility in critical positions. 'On the field, I like taking responsibility and running hard. Wherever the fielding hotspots are, I immediately put myself there,' he explained.

He also noted that the team's confidence in his catching ability has earned him placement in key fielding positions, which in turn creates more opportunities to influence matches — both in run-saving and catch-taking. 'When you pull off good catches, the crowd and fans enjoy it too,' he added. With the fourth T20I at Eden Park approaching, all eyes will be on whether Tilak can add to his record haul while contributing with bat and leadership in equal measure.