India, Oct. 8 -- A 22-ball 51 is as strong a statement as any finisher can make and Tilak Varma, who prefers the batting at No. 3, has done more than enough to silence the naysayers who questioned his suitability for the job.

The Hyderabad batter has been elevated to the vice-captaincy role, and is embracing the responsibility by making the finisher's role his own.

Rinku Singh was designated for the role in the 2026 T20 World Cup cycle, but he didn't really get the opportunities he deserved. But with the left-hander now out of the T20I set-up and Hardik Pandya's persistent injuries, Varma has stepped up for the team.

Switching from his preferred batting positions to a contrasting role can be difficult for a player and the 23-year-old a...