Evolving from an emerging middle-order prospect into a key finisher and now being India’s T20I vice-captain, left-handed batter Tilak Varma has credited his off-field observations of Rohit Sharma for shaping his understanding of leadership nuances and match awareness. “I haven’t played under Virat bhai’s captaincy but have played under Rohit bhai’s captaincy, both in MI and also in the Indian team. So, I have learned a lot of things from him. On the ground, the intensity is very high; there’s already so much running through your mind on the field, so you can’t take in as much. So, when I am off the field, I discuss a lot of things with him.
Now serving as deputy to T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma noted that the vice-captaincy brings a broader responsibility that extends well beyond on-field tactics – it goes into off-field team bonding and player management.
Only if you’ve done something will they hand you the vice-captaincy; they won’t just give it like that.
I used to observe all those things from him, and I’ve incorporated that into my own approach now while being on the field,” Varma told JioStar. I look at all of that, and when I get an opportunity on the field, I will use my brain as well,” he said. “And, like, when Rohit bhai and Virat bhai were playing, I didn’t use to be in the playing eleven. So, sitting outside, I used to observe which bowler Rohit bhai brings on and when, how he uses the bowlers. Now serving as deputy to T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, Varma noted that the vice-captaincy brings a broader responsibility that extends well beyond on-field tactics – it goes into off-field team bonding and player management. “First of all, it’s a responsibility. So, people start looking at you differently than before, like slightly more senior. So, I feel that a little extra responsibility comes with it, off the field especially. On the field, the captain will take care of things. “Obviously, when he isn’t there, your turn will come. So, I keep sharing my thoughts with Shreyas. As for the rest of the team’s atmosphere, off-field conversations, and players’ mindsets, in a team sport, players have their ups and downs, so I observe how you interact with the youngsters and where everyone stands. “When you are a number three or four player and then you bat at six or seven, that transition has been really tough. At the same time, when the team needs it, you don’t have any other option. You have to earn that position. For that, I worked on myself a lot in practice and mentally on how I can hit while staying still. When you bat early on, the bowlers hit the seam more. What kind of bowlers could come on? Before going to sleep, I just visualise that I’m walking in at this position. I always think about how I can win the game for the team.
“When a game is approaching, like if there’s a game tomorrow, I visualise; I think about which bowlers the opposition has.
