SportsPosted at: Oct 29 2026 5:32PM


Tilak backs India’s bowlers to deliver as team eyes 5-0 sweep

New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) India batter Tilak Varma believes the team’s bowling attack will hold the key to completing a series whitewash against New Zealand, with the visitors preparing for the fourth T20I at Eden Park on Friday.
With India leading 3-0 after winning the first three matches while chasing, Tilak has backed the bowlers to handle the challenge of another high-scoring contest, particularly with the ground’s shorter straight boundaries.
Tilak, who has never played at Eden Park, said he had heard about the venue’s dimensions but was not overly concerned about them.
“In the last two games we have bowled really well as a bowling unit, especially in the death overs and the middle phase,” Tilak said on Thursday. “If you see Prince Yadav especially, the way he is executing the yorkers when the team needs, especially in the death overs. That is a positive sign for us.
“And I think, in the next few games they are also (going to be important). If you see in the last game, the boundaries were really small, the square side. And this game, I think, the straighter (boundaries) there will be on the shorter side. (That’s what) I heard. I never played, but I heard. So, with that again, those crucial overs, bowling in the death, executing those yorkers will be really crucial.”
The Indian bowlers have had to operate in conditions that have favoured batting, with all three matches producing big totals. Tilak, however, feels the nature of the pitch matters more than the size of the ground.
“If the wicket is good, it doesn't matter with the ground,” he said.With the series already secured, India are now targeting a 5-0 sweep. Tilak said the team was determined to make the most of the opportunity and give Indian fans another reason to celebrate.
“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,” Tilak said before the fourth T20I.
The batter also spoke about the team’s demanding schedule, which has seen the players travel across countries with limited time to recover. India have played in Ireland, the UK, Zimbabwe and Japan before arriving in New Zealand, but Tilak insisted that the workload could not be used as an excuse.
“We, as a T20 team, were playing in a lot of countries, because we went to Ireland, UK, then we went to Zimbabwe, then we came back to Japan. All of it was happening continuously. Plus, there was the challenge of time difference to get used to continuously. If you see from Japan, the difference from Japan was quite a bit. But we are at this level that we cannot give excuses. We are in the top level, we have to set the standards. For the youngsters who will come, they’ll be seeing us. So, we cannot give excuses.
“Mentally, every player, as an individual, has prepared so well. Everyone said that, and especially Gautam sir was telling in the team meeting, and everywhere, that this is a long series, 1.5 months, almost 1.5-2 months - where we are playing everything from T20Is to one-days to Tests. So, he said that, as a T20 team, what standards you set, that will give you momentum for one-day and Test.
“So, our mindset as a T20 team is that we will set a standard, and this time, for one day and Test, it can continue. So, the plan was that, mentally, everyone is so strong, that we can give our best on the ground. So far, we have given our all, and by God's grace, we are up 3-0,” he added.
The Hyderabad left-hander has also adapted to a new role in the middle order, focusing on taking the innings deep rather than attacking every delivery from the outset.
“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. I take a bit more time. Initially, I focus on singles and doubles, finding gaps for fours or two runs,” he said.
He said the pressure in the closing overs often rests more heavily on the bowler than the batter.
“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.”
Tilak also confirmed that he was continuing to work on his bowling despite Naman Dhir's recent contributions with the ball.
“As a management, we have spoken (about my bowling) and I have done a lot of work. Now, we have Naman Dhir in the team. He is bowling well, so there is not much use of my bowling. But behind the scenes, I am also practising.
“I am confident, when I get a chance, I will bowl. Right now, Naman Dhir is doing well (with the ball) in T20s. So, if he is doing well, the team can’t stop him and get me to bowl. But when I get such an opportunity, of course, I will step in, and I will do the job,” he said.UNI TB AAB
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