Tilak Varma has been rewarded for his stunning exploits in the IPL for Mumbai Indians.
The 15-member squad didn’t feature big names like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli while youngsters such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tilak Varma earned their maiden call-ups.
After the team announcement, Tilak, who has been rewarded for his stunning exploits in the Indian Premier League for Mumbai Indians, shared his first reaction on receiving the maiden India call-up.
Tilak is currently plying his trade in the Duleep Trophy semi-final for South Zone against North Zone at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. After the second day’s play, the southpaw revealed that his parents cried after hearing the news of his selection.
"My mom and dad were literally crying yesterday. I made a video call to them and they were very emotional. My coach (Salam Bayash) also had the same reaction. He also became very emotional," Tilak Varma was quoted as saying by PTI.
The 20-year-old got to know about his maiden India call-up from his childhood friend as his phone was switched off.
"I was playing in the Duleep Trophy (hence the mobile was switched off). Later my childhood friend called me and said you are selected, and that is when I came to know about it…around 8 in the night," Tilak said.
The left-hander also acknowledged that playing for Mumbai Indians in the IPL has helped him prepare for any situation.
"I will always back myself in any situation. I try to be clear in my mindset because Kieron Pollard was the main guy who used to do the job for us in that situation (death overs). He always tells me to be calm and just focus on the next ball. So, I just back myself each time I entered and the results worked,” Tilak said.
"I am more confident now because I am a capped player. It is a big thing to get selected for the Indian team but I kept it aside. But even in my sleep, I was thinking of tomorrow's game (Duleep Trophy)," he added.
Tilak Varma has played 25 IPL matches so far, scoring 740 runs at a healthy average of 38.95 and an impressive strike rate of 144.53 with three half-centuries.
(With PTI Inputs)