Tilak Varma spoke about his India debut and experience of playing in IPL.
Varma, 20, impressed one and all in his debut for India, as he stroked 39 in 22 balls with 3 sixes and 2 fours. Before that, Varma had impressed one and all during the U19 days.
He was then picked by Mumbai Indians in IPL 2022 auction and scored 397 runs in 14 innings behind Ishan Kishan's 418. He then proved that it wasn't a fluke as he hammered 343 runs from 11 innings in IPL 2023.
In a chat with his India and IPL teammate Ishan Kishan, the 20-year-old admitted he will be a bit nervous in his maiden international assignment but his plan is to play around his strengths.
“West Indies is a very good side in T20. My plan is to play around my strengths, want to stick to basics. This is my first series, so want to give my 100 per cent. I will be a bit nervous but want to give my best. I spoke to Rahul sir during practice that if I end up losing my wicket while giving my best, that’s fine," Tilak said in a video shared by BCCI.
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“In the first year (of IPL), you are under pressure to do well. You know to get more chances, you have to prove yourself and I played with that mindset. Of course, every player hopes to play for India one day but I wasn’t thinking about it back then. I got the call only after playing well," said Tilak.
Then Ishan Kishan moved the conversation towards the tattoos Tilak Varma has, and said: “Humein jawab chahiye! (We need answers)."
“I wanted to get tattoos since kid and it wasn’t allowed back then. So I asked my coach who told me to do stay focus, reach a level and then go for it," Tilak responded.
“I called my coach and family. I wanted to talk more but my parents got emotional, were crying so I didn’t speak for long," said Tilak.
India and West Indies will play 2nd and 3rd T20Is in Guyana on August 6 and 8 and the last two T20Is will be played in Floridda on August 12 and 13.