India batter Tilak Varma has come under fire from former all-rounder Irfan Pathan following a sluggish innings against the Netherlands during a match at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday. Despite the favorable batting conditions in Ahmedabad, Tilak struggled to find his rhythm, contributing a mere 31 runs off 27 balls as India faced an early collapse, losing their top three batsmen for just 69 runs in nine overs.

Pathan expressed disappointment in Tilak's performance, particularly in light of his earlier success in Sri Lanka, where he showcased awareness and responsibility at the crease. "I expected more from Tilak Varma in Ahmedabad. His strike rate should have been better because the pitch was conducive for batting," Pathan stated on his YouTube channel. "He will need to focus on improving his scoring rates moving forward, especially as the competition intensifies in the Super 8s."

Compounding the issue is the positioning of the left-handed trio of Tilak, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan in the batting order. Pathan raised concerns about the tactical challenges posed by having three left-handers consecutively, suggesting that it could make it easier for opposing teams to strategize against them.

Referencing recent matches, Pathan highlighted the effectiveness of Pakistan’s bowling strategy against left-handers, which yielded positive results. He emphasized the need for India to reassess their batting lineup, proposing that captain Suryakumar Yadav could be moved up to No. 3 to break the left-handed combination. “If this happens in a big match, it could put India under pressure,” he cautioned, especially with key upcoming fixtures against teams like South Africa.

As India heads into the next stages of the T20 World Cup, Varma’s performance will be critical, and the team will need to make strategic adjustments to ensure they remain competitive.