Modern T20 cricket has changed significantly in recent years. Teams now focus on aggressive batting, aiming to hit boundaries from the start and finish games as quickly as possible.
India’s match against South Africa, however, highlighted the risks of this approach. Playing without assessing the situation led to reckless shots and regular loss of wickets.
After the defeat, many experts underlined the importance of having a player like Virat Kohli in the Indian team. Critics who once questioned his T20I value due to strike rate are now facing backlash on social media.
Kohli was never just an anchor. He had the ability to control the innings early and accelerate when required, depending on the match situation.
India seem to be expecting a similar role from Tilak, but the comparison shows how demanding Kohli’s role actually was. Adjusting pace and managing pressure is not easy in high stakes games.
The team needs to understand that slowing down at times is not a weakness. Reading conditions and building an innings can often provide a better chance of winning.
With the next match against Zimbabwe coming up, India face a crucial test. It remains to be seen whether the players adapt or continue with an all-or-nothing batting approach.
