With the approaching 2026 T20 World Cup, the most talked-about issue in Indian cricketing circles is the selection of position 3 in the T20 international squad.
With the exclusion of the vice-captain of the Indian cricket team, Shubman Gill, the selection committee decided to choose Ishan Kishan to return to the Indian team after a span of two years. However, the discussion again revolves around the selection of two players: Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav.
Both players have impressed with their performances, but Suryakumar Yadav has been among the most impressive T20 players from the Indian side over the years. However, given his current performance concerns and the emergence of a talented player like Tilak Varma, raises questions over who to prefer for no. 3 position.
Suryakumar Yadav’s Performance in T20 Cricket
There is no doubt that Suryakumar Yadav has made it to the list of the best T20 international batsmen worldwide. A specialist in innovative strokeplay, Suryakumar has the knack to accumulate runs in the middle overs, which is a very crucial attribute for any batsman at number 3.
Suryakumar Yadav’s Key Stats:
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Surya has produced a solid batting average of approximately 45-50 runs through each inning, with his average being one the most steady in this format of the game. Surya has produced his strike rate of at least 155 as a batsman which is extremely impressive for a batsman on professional cricket.
Surya’s record included multiple scores that are worth “half-century”, and a number of match winning scores throughout his short professional career.
Suryakumar’s strength lies in his ability to strike at a rapid rate after the power play and also when defending a target. His flexibility while chasing or defending a target makes him an extremely strong candidate to occupy this slot.
Appearance of Tilak Varma as a Strong Contender
Conversely, the Indian cricketing scene has been home to one bright prospect in the younger player lineup: Tilak Varma. His performances in domestic as well as his limited appearances in T20 internationals have been more than sufficient to give the selectors something to mull over.
Though his T20 international career is as of now in its early stages, as compared to Surya, he at least looks like he has the makings of a decent middle-order player.
Tilak Varma’s Career Highlights
Average: His average performance in T20 Internationals has been decent, stuck mostly around the average of 40.
Strike Rate: The strike rate of Tilak is also very impressive, being above 140, ensuring that momentum is maintained while he is at the wickets.
Flexibility: The fact that distinguishes him from the rest is the flexibility he possesses in adapting to the situation of the match. He can perform well both when he is the “anchor” of the innings and when he is “attacking” the middle overs.
Though he has lower international matches compared to Suryakumar Yadav, his performances have been very promising, especially when it comes to adding stability to the innings and making something out of the starting partnerships.
Head-to-Head Comparison: Who Should Bat at No. 3?
Comparing Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma when selecting someone for the third position in an India team playing T20 International cricket highlights that both players have advantages and disadvantages compared with the other player pertaining to the areas mentioned above:
Suryakumar has extensive experience as a T20 International cricketer and consistently demonstrates his ability to perform under pressure in high-stakes situations. His ability to score quickly during the mid-innings and although he runs slowly between the wickets, his swift passage of wickets will enable Suryakumar to contribute to the team’s performance.
Although Tilak has shown promise, he is still at an early stage of developing the consistency needed to play at his best at the international level. Though his performances in domestic T20 leagues as well as his selected opportunities with the Indian national cricket team have been quite impressive.
Flexibility: Although both cricketers are flexible, the ability of Suryakumar to play unorthodox shots and rotate the strike in different match situations makes him stand out in terms of adapting to whatever the team needs.
Who Should Take Spot 3 in T20 World Cup?
On the basis of current performance and experience, Suryakumar Yadav marginally beats Tilak Varma to make it to the no 3 slot in the Indian T20 international team. However, the youthful exuberance and potential that Tilak Varma possesses to adapt to the demands of international cricket make him a prospect to look forward to at the no 3 slot in the Indian team at some stage in the future.
As the 2026 T20 World Cup is around the corner, the race for the number 3 position is still not over. It would largely depend upon who sustains their performance and grabs the opportunities presented to them when India aims to assemble the ideal squad for the major tournament.
