Mumbai, March 28 -- Mumbai Indians (MI) head coach Mahela Jayawardene has underlined the importance of flexible batting, pointing to Tilak Varma's evolving role as a major advantage ahead of their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 opening clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Jayawardene said the team values players who can adapt to different situations and bat in multiple positions.

He noted that Tilak's role for India in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup reflects that adaptability, which aligns well with Mumbai Indians' strategy. During the T20 World Cup, Varma, who originally plays at the number three position, batted in the middle-order in the Men in Blue's T20 World Cup victory.

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