Tilak Varma Opens Up on India A Captaincy and Lessons from Rohit Sharma

For Tilak Varma, captaincy was never part of the dream.

Yet as the 23-year-old prepares to lead India A in the upcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka, the newly-appointed India T20I vice-captain finds himself on a leadership path shaped by two of Indian cricket's most influential figures - Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir.

Fresh off being named deputy to Shreyas Iyer in India's revamped T20I setup, Tilak will captain an India A side featuring some of the country's brightest young talents, including IPL sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and explosive opener Priyansh Arya.

But while the promotion may have come quickly, Tilak believes the groundwork was laid years ago.

The Hyderabad batter revealed that India's head coach Gautam Gambhir had consistently encouraged him to view every India A assignment as preparation for bigger responsibilities in the future.

"Whenever you lead India A, keep this in mind that you have to do that for India also," Gambhir had told him, according to RevSportz.

Those words appear to have resonated deeply.

"When you see that VC (vice-captain) in front of your name, it means there is more maturity coming into that senior category," Tilak said. "I was prepared and got the opportunity at the right time."

Despite his rapid rise through the ranks, Tilak insists the role brings responsibility rather than pressure.

"I never dreamt of leading my country. It's a big opportunity. Leading the country is the biggest thing. I'm feeling no pressure, just added responsibility," he added.

Rohit Sharma's influence beyond batting

While Tilak has developed into one of India's most exciting white-ball batters, many of his leadership lessons have come from observing Rohit Sharma at close quarters during their time together at Mumbai Indians.

Rather than discussing batting techniques, Tilak revealed that his conversations with Rohit have largely revolved around captaincy and handling pressure situations.

"I don't talk much about batting with Rohit Bhai. Just the captaincy things - by seeing him and asking a lot," Tilak said. "I ask about the mindset and thinking under pressure. With all that, I will try to help Shreyas."

Having played under Rohit at Mumbai Indians and watched him lead India to the T20 World Cup title in 2024, Tilak has had a front-row seat to one of modern cricket's most respected leaders.

Those experiences could prove invaluable as he takes his first significant steps in leadership roles at the national level.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi remains the centre of attention

Although Tilak will wear the captain's armband in Sri Lanka, much of the spotlight remains firmly fixed on 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

The teenager recently became the youngest player ever selected in an Indian men's squad, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's long-standing record.

However, Tilak believes the best way to manage a talent like Sooryavanshi is to avoid overcomplicating things.

"He has earned everything," Tilak said of the youngster.

Rather than burdening him with advice, Tilak wants the teenager to continue playing the fearless brand of cricket that earned him national recognition.

"I won't say much to him. He doesn't need to change anything. You think you want to hit the first ball? Hit it."

With India increasingly investing in its next generation, the Sri Lanka tour could offer a glimpse into the future leadership structure of Indian cricket.

And if Tilak Varma's rise is any indication, the lessons learned from Rohit Sharma's calmness under pressure and Gautam Gambhir's demanding standards may already be shaping India's next captaincy candidate.