Former Australian skipper Aaron Finch reckons batting in the middle order suits Tilak Varma after Mumbai Indians registered a comprehensive 99-run win against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.

Varma had failed to deliver while batting at number three in the first few games. The left-hander scored a brilliant knock of 101 runs off just 45 balls against GT while batting at number five.

The southpaw scored eight fours and seven sixes and played a key role in helping MI post 199 runs on the board. Thus, he was awarded Player of the match for his magnum opus knock.

Finch highlighted that Varma tries too hard to play a perfect T20 knock while batting at one drop.

Aaron Finch said on ESPN Cricinfo, “He’s a middle-order player. Coming in the middle order suits him. When he is at the top of the order, he almost tries to construct the perfect T20 innings. When the game is laid out in front of him, he sees it differently. There are a lot of players like that. When you are at the top of the order, you are the one that has to make the decision. Some guys are so good at either one.”

On the other hand, former South African skipper Faf du Plessis noted the exact same thing happened in the World Cup when Varma performed consistently while batting in the middle order.

He said, “This was the exact thing that happened in the T20 World Cup. His numbers were better at the back end when the change happened in the team. The openers changed, they moved him down and he was successful. So, once again the numbers tell you that he is better right now coming in a little bit late.”

Mumbai Indians will next take on Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.