Varma has never played at Eden Park and admits his understanding of the venue's dimensions comes from what he has heard. The straight boundaries are reportedly shorter, unlike Christchurch, where Indian batters dominated the New Zealand bowlers to help the visitors establish an unassailable advantage in the series.
With three matches producing three high-scoring contests, Varma believes India's bowlers have performed well despite conditions that have favoured the batters. He expects their ability to execute plans during crucial phases to remain decisive in front of a packed stadium in Auckland.
“In the last two games we have bowled really well as a bowling unit, especially in the death overs and the middle phase,” Varma said on Thursday. “If you see Prince Yadav especially, the way he is executing the yorkers when the team needs, especially in the death overs. That is a positive sign for us.
“And I think, in the next few games they are also (going to be important). If you see in the last game, the boundaries were really small, the square side. And this game, I think, the straighter (boundaries) there will be on the shorter side. (That’s what) I heard. I never played, but I heard. So, with that again, those crucial overs, bowling in the death, executing those yorkers will be really crucial.”
However, Varma is not overly concerned about the ground's dimensions, stressing that the pitch will be the more important factor for the batters.
“If the wicket is good, it doesn't matter with the ground,” he said.
With the series already sealed, India are now targeting a whitewash, a much-needed result for a T20I side under Shreyas Iyer that has not achieved as much success as it would have liked since the tour of Ireland in July.
India's performance in New Zealand has come despite limited time for rest and recovery, with players travelling across the country amid a demanding schedule. Varma acknowledged the hectic nature of the team's commitments but said the players could not use fatigue or travel as an excuse, emphasising their responsibility to establish standards for younger players.
“We, as a T20 team, were playing in a lot of countries, because we went to Ireland, UK, then we went to Zimbabwe, then we came back to Japan. All of it was happening continuously. Plus, there was the challenging of time difference to get used to continuously. If you see from Japan, the difference from Japan was quite a bit. But we are at this level that we cannot give excuses. We are in the top level, we have to set the standards. For the youngsters who will come, they’ll be seeing us. So, we cannot give excuses.
“Mentally, every player, as an individual, has prepared so well. Everyone said that, and especially Gautam sir was telling in the team meeting, and everywhere, that this is a long series, 1.5 months, almost 1.5-2 months - where we are playing everything from T20Is to one-days to Tests. So, he said that, as a T20 team, what standards you set, that will give you momentum for one-day and Test.
“So, our mindset as a T20 team is that we will set a standard, and this time, for one day and Test, it can continue. So, the plan was that, mentally, everyone is so strong, that we can give our best on the ground. So far, we have given our all, and by God's grace, we are up 3-0.”
Varma also praised Naman Dhir's performances with the ball, while confirming that he continues to work on his own bowling in the nets so he can contribute whenever the team needs him.
“As a management, we have spoken (about my bowling) and I have done a lot of work. Now, we have Naman Dhir in the team. He is bowling well, so there is not much use of my bowling. But behind the scenes, I am also practising. I am confident, when I get a chance, I will bowl. Right now, Naman Dhir is doing well (with the ball) in T20s. So, if he is doing well, the team can’t stop him and get me to bowl. But when I get such an opportunity, of course, I will step in, and I will do the job.”
As India prepare for the fourth T20I in Auckland, Varma's comments underline the importance of disciplined bowling, particularly in the middle and death overs, as the team looks to maintain its winning run and complete a series whitewash against New Zealand.
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