The batting talent was never in doubt. What Indian cricket is now discovering is Tilak Varma, the leader.

Over the last fortnight in Sri Lanka, the left-hander has had to do far more than score runs. 

As India-A captain, he has been tasked with bringing together a group assembled from different corners of the country, guiding the young players through pressure situations and handling the expectations that come with wearing the captain’s armband.

With a new assignment as India’s T20I vice-captain also awaiting him, Tilak finds himself at an important juncture in his career. Yet amid the growing responsibilities, his philosophy remains remarkably simple: focus on self-improvement, stay grounded, and keep learning.

In this conversation with  Sportstar, Tilak opens up on leadership, pressure, mentorship and the lessons he has borrowed from Rohit Sharma.

Q: You’ve captained before, but this has been a tough tour, leading India-A. What have been the biggest learnings?

A: There have been a lot of learnings, especially around handling pressure. We came into this tournament as a group that hadn’t played together before. Everyone was coming from different teams and different IPL environments, and then suddenly they had to come together for India-A.

What helped was that everyone has played enough domestic cricket. As a captain, the biggest learning for me has been understanding each player — how they react under pressure, what their mindset is and how to get the best out of them. I spend a lot of time with players off the field because that helps me understand them better.

I’ve seen Rohit  bhai do that with Mumbai Indians and with the Indian team. I know how important those relationships become when you’re out in the middle. I’ve tried to implement some of those things here, and it’s worked well so far.

How do you keep yourself calm when things don’t go your way, especially after an emotionally charged game like the Super Over against Sri Lanka-A?

Honestly, if you look at that game, the light wasn’t ideal for a Super Over. But we had worked hard throughout the day and wanted a result because both teams were playing for two points. That’s all I was asking the umpires about. There wasn’t much argument from our side.

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As for pressure, yes, it comes with leading India because of the legacy attached to the team. But pressure is part of the job. We’ve actually played good cricket in this tournament. Against Afghanistan-A, the DLS result didn’t go our way. Against Sri Lanka-A, it was a very close game. But overall, we’ve played well as a team, and now we have one game left. We’ll give it our best.

After a long IPL season, how challenging is it to adapt to the longer format, especially in these conditions in Sri Lanka?

It’s not really about changing formats because it’s still white-ball cricket. The bigger adjustment is the conditions. In the IPL, you get excellent batting surfaces. Here, the wickets are slower, the grounds are bigger, the outfield is slower and even the weather plays a role.

But if you’re playing for India, there can’t be excuses. You have to adapt quickly. We’ve all played across different conditions since childhood. It’s just about getting used to the environment and executing your skills.

You are now India’s T20I vice-captain. What was your reaction when the news came through?

(Smiles) It was a very proud moment for me and my family. Whenever you’re given extra responsibility, you feel good because it means people trust you.

I’ve captained at different age-group levels for my state and for India, so those experiences help. But this is obviously a different level. It feels special. At the same time, I want to do more. This is only the beginning. I want to keep getting better and contribute more to Indian cricket.

You’ve experienced highs and lows early in your career. What’s your coping mechanism when things aren’t going your way?

Nothing changes for me. The way I work, the way I spend time with my family, the way I approach life — all of that stays the same.

If your mind is in a good place and you’re thinking positively, things eventually fall into place. Cricket is important, but it isn’t everything. It’s a sport and you have to enjoy it.

Highs and lows will always come. What matters is whether you’re the same person during both phases. The way you behave, the way you talk to people and the way you carry yourself — those things matter a lot. Cricket is a long journey. To survive for a long time, you need stability.

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With so much competition for places in Indian cricket, how do you keep improving?

I don’t really look at the competition. I don’t think about who’s coming in or who’s doing what.

For me, it only matters how good I am today and how good I can be tomorrow. That’s the comparison I make every day. I focus on improving my game, on and off the field.

If I compare myself with anyone, it’s with myself. That’s the only thing that matters. 

On this tour, you have had a chance to lead and mentor 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. What advice have you given him?

It will definitely be challenging for him when he makes that transition to the senior men’s team. He’s come from U-19 cricket, had a fantastic IPL and is now representing a senior side.

But he’s extremely talented. If he gets going, he can finish games on his own. The most important thing for someone like him is backing. Young players need freedom.

I’ve told him to keep playing his natural game, enjoy and not take pressure. At his age, this is the time to learn and express himself. Whatever he has achieved so far has come from playing positively. There’s no reason to change that.

As captain, I told him I’m always there if he needs anything. Just keep learning, keep enjoying the game and trust your strengths. So, we are backing him and hoping that he comes good in the final. And, if he gets going, we all know what he’s capable of doing. I hope he keeps going in the final.

Published on Jun 20, 2026