Tilak Varma may have deserved one of the biggest promotions of his career, but the former India batsman Mohammad Kaif he reminded the youngster that the vice-captaincy has no guarantees in the current Indian team line-up.The 23-year-old left-hander was recently named India’s new T20I vice-captain following a significant change in leadership despite the team’s T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year. In a big change, Suryakumar Yadav the captain’s title was taken away and he was left out of the team, with Shreyas Iyer assuming responsibility. Axar Patel, who served as vice-captain, also lost his role as the selectors turned to Tilak.While the appointment underscores the faith the team management has in Tilak, Kaif believes the youngster cannot afford to assume that a leading position guarantees him a regular place in the side. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif noted that recent examples prove that leadership roles provide little protection if performance falls.“Tilak Varma is vice-captain, yes. But vice-captains have also been dropped before. Being vice-captain doesn’t mean that Tilak Varma’s place in the team is guaranteed. If Tilak starts thinking, ‘I’m vice-captain, my place is secure’, that just doesn’t work in this Indian team. If he wants to keep playing, he’ll have to maintain his form. Even a slight dip in form could have led to Patel being vice-captain. He would remember that. He is no longer the vice-captain. The team has now moved on to Tilak,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.Kaif’s comments come in the context of several recent selection decisions. Shubman Gilldespite serving as India’s vice-captain during multiple T20I stints, he eventually lost his place in the format and missed out on the T20 World Cup squad. And Axar was replaced in the leading group after the last overhaul.According to Kaif, the team’s current management has created a culture where every player, regardless of reputation or appointment, must continue to deliver consistent performances to retain their place.“So in this Indian team nobody’s place is guaranteed. Not even the captain’s place. There is no permanent vice-captain either. Everyone has to earn their place. Everyone has to perform in every single match. This is a phase in Indian cricket that we have never seen before. That is the mindset of coaches and selectors now. Your place in the team is at stake in every single match. That is why Tilak Varma might start with this team, but his place in the XI is by no means guaranteed in the future,” he added.
