We wanted to put fear in the opposition bowlers: Tilak

Indian batters had a field day against Zimbabwe, each scoring at a strike rate of more than 150.

The under-fire Tilak Varma was back to his menacing best as he smashed an unbeaten 44 (16b, 3×4, 4×6) at a whopping strike rate of 275. The southpaw shed light on how everything clicked for the Men in Blue’s willow-wielders at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday (February 26, 2026).

“We were just looking for this. When the openers give a good start, the same confidence [trickles down] to Numbers 3, 4 and 5. (Sanju) Samson started brilliantly, and everyone followed [in the same vein],” Tilak said after India’s 72-run win in a vital T20 World Cup Super Eight game.

“We wanted to continue hitting even if we had lost three or four wickets in the PowerPlay. We wanted to put fear in the opposition bowlers that these guys were ready to hit each and every ball.”

On being pushed down to No. 6, Tilak said: “I always say that whatever the team needs, I am up for it. I’ve done the same role for the Mumbai Indians, and I’ve done it in a few games for the Indian team, too.”

Bennett content with his effort

Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett, who scored an unbeaten 97, said he did not mind missing out on a century. “It would have been nice. But cricket is just like that sometimes. You are not going to get to the landmark always,” he said.

On pursuing a mammoth target, he added: “Chasing 257 was always going to be tough. The chat was to go out there and express ourselves, and don’t worry about the score”.