Former Indian wicket-keeper bat Dinesh Karthik has highlighted that Tilak Varma has been found wanting in T20Is amid the series against England. After scoring a nice little cameo of 11-ball 24 in the second game of the series, Varma could only manage three runs off 11 deliveries in the third match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on Tuesday.

India’s T20I vice-captain was dismissed after scoring 11 runs off eight deliveries in the penultimate game of the series by Josh Tongue. Varma has found the going hard against the spinners in the middle overs and his strike rate has been an issue in the recent past.

“The other problem that Team India are facing is Tilak Varma. He is not getting scores he would ideally like, even though he did well for India A, led the team, won the series, and did well in ODI cricket. In this format, he’s found the going hard. It was Shivam Dube who came in ahead of him, and even he could not get going. He played with a strike rate of under 100. So there is plenty for India to think, saying, ‘Why are things not going great? What is so different that this Indian team suddenly look out of sort, out of form?’” Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

Karthik reckons there could be some changes to India’s playing XI as Suryansh Shedge can come in place of Tilak Varma.

“We will surely see some changes in the batting. I have a feeling Tilak Varma might be replaced by some other batter, maybe Suryansh Shedge. Is Shivam Dube going to be rested for someone else to come in? Most importantly, if England go onto win 4-0, it also means India are no longer the World No.1 ranked team,” Dinesh Karthik concluded.

The fifth T20I between India and England will be played at Rose Bowl, Southampton, on Saturday.