De Villiers Points to India's Crowded Batting Order
Discussing India's options, de Villiers referred to a group that includes captain Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
That depth prompted a straightforward question about Tilak.
“Where will he bat?” de Villiers asked.
It is a reasonable selection issue for a side with several players capable of occupying prominent batting positions. Picking the strongest individuals on paper does not necessarily produce the most balanced T20 XI, particularly when roles through the powerplay, middle overs and closing stages have to be considered.
De Villiers described India's squad as “really, really strong”, while acknowledging that finding the right balance could prove difficult.
For Tilak, the discussion is therefore less about whether he has done enough to warrant selection and more about how India intend to use him.
Tilak Arrives After Productive Duleep Trophy Run
Tilak's recent domestic performances have strengthened his case.
Representing South Zone in the Duleep Trophy, the left-hander produced scores of 116 not out, 51 not out and 99 across the semi-final and final.
Those innings leave India with an unusual problem. Tilak enters the international assignment in form, yet the competition around him means form alone may not determine his batting position.
The distinction matters in T20 cricket. A player used at No. 3 can have a very different responsibility from someone arriving later against spin or being asked to accelerate immediately in the final overs.
India will have to decide which role best suits Tilak while also considering how that decision affects the rest of the order.
A Selection Puzzle Rather Than a Question of Ability
Tilak's left-handed batting also gives India a different option in a line-up where match-ups can influence selection.
But India must balance that advantage against the roles assigned to their other batters. Kishan and Samson provide wicketkeeping options, while Iyer brings experience to the middle order. Sooryavanshi offers another aggressive batting choice.
That is where de Villiers' observation carries weight.
India may have enough quality to field several different combinations, but the challenge for the team management is deciding which players complement one another. An overloaded top or middle order can force accomplished batters into positions that do not make the best use of their strengths.
Role clarity, rather than reputation alone, could ultimately determine India's preferred XI.
Busy Schedule Gives India Little Time to Settle Combination
The three-match Afghanistan series will give India an immediate opportunity to test those combinations.
India are also scheduled to face Japan in a one-off T20I on September 22, before beginning their Asian Games knockout campaign with a quarter-final six days later.
The Asian Games assignment overlaps with India's limited-overs series against the West Indies, which begins on September 27, requiring the selectors to manage resources across separate commitments.
Gautam Gambhir will coach India during the Afghanistan series, while VVS Laxman, the BCCI Centre of Excellence chief, is set to take charge of the Asian Games side in Japan.
The schedule makes early clarity over batting roles particularly useful. India do not have an extended period in which to experiment before moving from one assignment to another.
India Seeking Greater T20I Consistency
The upcoming matches also arrive after an uneven period for India in the format.
India won the T20 World Cup at home in March, but their subsequent tours of Ireland and England produced six defeats in six completed matches.
They recovered with a three-match series victory in Zimbabwe.
With more senior and in-form players available again, India's task now is different. Instead of trying to cover gaps in the squad, the selectors and team management have to choose between multiple credible options.
Tilak's recent performances make him difficult to overlook. At the same time, de Villiers' question captures the larger decision facing India: selecting Tilak is only one part of the equation. Determining where he can have the greatest influence may be the more important call.
