In the first T20I between India and New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, Team India vice-captain Tilak Varma had a horrible show once again after he was pushed up the order; he failed to take his chance. He just threw away his wicket as he failed to hit boundaries, and the pressure was mounting on him and the team as well.

The Men in Blue have been in good form post the England series as they have not lost a T20I series under Shreyas Iyer. However, this five-match T20I series is a real test for the defending T20 World Cup champions as they are still looking for their first win in the SENA countries under Iyer’s captaincy.

Tilak Varma fails yet again at the top

Tilak Varma surprisingly came into bat at No.3 as India were chasing a mammoth total. Varma, who has played a role at No.5 of the finisher of the game in the later part of the innings could not help to up the run rate as he came in after Abhishek Sharma was dismissed by Michael Bracewell.

The Southpaw failed to become the aggressor and was playing dot balls, which cost the wicket of Sanju Samson as well, as the pressure was mounting on the team as Varma was playing a lot of dot balls in the middle overs. He was dismissed soon after trying to be aggressive and was back for 6 runs off 11 deliveries without hitting a single boundary.

India eyeing epic run chase

New Zealand posted 225/4 in their 20 overs, as Glenn Philips played a superb knock of 82 runs and, along with him, the two Kiwi openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen scored 24 and 45 runs respectively. Bevon Jacobs scored a fiery 31 runs.

India were off to a blistering start in the form of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. Both were on song, as they stitched 93 runs between them inside the powerplay, as the Southpaw was dismissed for 29 off 12 deliveries, smashing three sixes and two fours. Sanju kept his runs going and scored 67 off 33 deliveries, hitting four sixes and double the boundaries.

After that, there was a flurry of wickets as three wickets fell for 8 runs, but Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel kept the runs flowing; the latter played a short, impactful knock of 24 runs off 14 deliveries. Iyer is at the crease with Naman Dhir as India still needs 27 runs with 2.5 overs remaining.

Fans' reaction to Tilak Varma's failure

Tilak Varma is such a fraud, so so handicap against the spinners. Can't even score against hit on flat pitch of NZ where there is no assistance for spinners! Now, he played that knock against Pakistan again which will give him another 40-50 games. Never seen a batter so shit against spinners!

— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) October 22, 2026

Tilak Varma just produced one of the worst T20 cricket knocks in history

— Charlie (@charliekeeley3) October 22, 2026

@Rajiv1841 Brainless decision to send Tilak in place of Ishaan who plays like Abhishek without slowing down the momentum and runrate. GG has keeda or an art of loosing the game from winning position with his Pathetic Disgusting strategies #NZvIND #INDvNZ @BCCI

— Crzy_sanjju (@CzSanjey) October 22, 2026

Ishan and tilak batting order swap chesaru.. Ee iddaru tappa.. Andaru baga aadaru...

— bhuviiii15 (@dhoolpetaaa) October 22, 2026

Watching Tilak Varma bat reminds me of Dhoni every single time. Honestly, he is one of the worst batsmen I’ve ever seen in cricket. Anyone who isn’t blind will tell you that Tilak is a terrible batsman, but Rohit fans will hype him up just because Rohit likes him and he’s close to Rohit's family.

— Oxygen (@Oxygen18_) October 22, 2026

I have only one word - Why? #TilakVarma https://t.co/wv9jFI490q

— Kaushik (@kaushiktweetz) October 22, 2026

@Indiancric1cm Unless it was requested by tilak this mastake could derail our whole tour

— Rajat Agarwal (@i_m__rajat) October 22, 2026

@Supremacyx9 But ts rkb tilak costed sanju's wicket

— Trishay(एमएसडी प्रेमी )💛 (@sat0ru_gaujo) October 22, 2026

Leave everything paji if india doesn't stop changing batting order and sending tilak at 3 and disturbing ishan's batting order ,they will be done and dusted in mosg matches

— rishu (@rishushukla1991) October 22, 2026

@kuzhi__madiyan Tilak at 3 is trash

— that guy (@ikhaleeli) October 22, 2026

Why is Tilak Varma being pushed to No. 3 when he was doing really well down the order? Why fix something that wasn’t broken?

— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) October 22, 2026