Tilak Verma is under pressure as he has failed to make an impact in the 2026 T20 World Cup. The southpaw’s strike rate and intent have been questioned. Despite the anchor role, he played a dashing strokeplay during India’s embarrassing 76-run defeat against South Africa last Sunday.
Tilak, who showed amazing nature during the Asia Cup 2025 and single-handedly won the final against Pakistan, has failed to maintain the momentum. His place has also come under threat as there are rumors that he will be dropped from the team for India’s next match against Zimbabwe.
‘Tilak Verma has his own way of playing’- Mohammad Kaif
Before the match, former India batsman Mohammad Kaif has dropped his comment on Tilak Verma’s form and his approach towards the game, as there were questions on social media and everywhere about his slow game which were on his mind.
Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube channel, “Tilak Verma has his own way of playing. He can play with a slow strike rate. However, he got out while playing a big shot. There was pressure on him regarding the strike rate. As a player, you keep an eye on what is being said.”
‘He should play the role of Virat Kohli’- Mohammad Kaif
Mohammad Kaif cited the example of Virat Kohli, who has been India’s trouble-shooter while chasing 160+ scores in the T20 World Cup. India has done this successfully only three times and each time Virat Kohli was the player of the match in the previous matches.
Mohammad Kaif said, “But it is the job of the management to ask the player to stick to his role. He should play the role of Virat Kohli. He moved away from his gameplay and started hitting big shots. If you listen to others, you will never be able to play.”
Kaif further said that to become a ‘chase master’ like Kohli, players need to have the mindset of playing the full 20 overs of the game and not just playing impressive innings. Virat Kohli averages over 67 while chasing in the history of T20 World Cup.
India trusts Virat Kohli a lot
Mohammad Kaif concluded, “To become a chess master, you have to bat till the 20th over. Tilak Verma got out early while trying to hit. What is your role? Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh play aggressive cricket. There should be at least one player who can take the game deep.”
Virat Kohli, at No. 3, has been India’s reliable man in difficult situations for the last several years. He has now retired from the shortest format of the game and also from Test cricket and plays only one format, ODI.
On Thursday, February 26, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the Men in Blue will face Zimbabwe, who will have to win at any cost. Suryakumar Yadav’s team would like to win by a big margin as their run rate has been negative after the defeat last weekend.
Also read: Gives opinion about Pakistan also: Mohammad Aamir once again targets India
