WI v IND 2023: Robin Uthappa feels Tilak Varma will be “discussed by selectors” for ODI World Cup squad

Tilak impressed one and all with his consistency in the T20I series against West Indies.

By Salman Anjum - 14 Aug, 2023

India’s young batter Tilak Varma has impressed one and all with his consistency in his debut T20I series against the West Indies.

While the Men in Blue lost the first two T20Is, the southpaw managed to grab the headlines with his performances. Tilak scored 39 off 22 balls in the series opener and followed it with a maiden T20I half-century (51 off 41 balls) in the second match.

The stylish left-hander continued his brilliance in the third T20I as he remained unbeaten on 49 off 37 balls to take India over the line at Providence Stadium, Guyana. In the fourth T20I, Varma returned with 7 not out while he scored 18-ball 27 in the final match of the series.

Impressed with his performance, former India opener Robin Uthappa has said that the national selectors and team management will discuss the selection of Tilak Varma in the upcoming ODI World Cup squad.

Uthappa feels Tilak could possibly be the answer to India's middle-order woes with multiple batters still recovering from injuries.

"Yeah. Certainly, he will be discussed by the selectors as well, because if you want to look at someone who can serve the team for a long time and he seems like he's got a pretty good head on his shoulders, and he goes about his business in a very diligent way," Uthappa said while speaking on JioCinema.

With less than two months remaining for the 50-over World Cup at home, Team India are sweating over the fitness of key batters like KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer.

As a result, India experimented with their playing XI during the recently held three-match ODI series against West Indies. The team management rested star batters like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the last two games and provided opportunities to Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav.

"We know that he's someone who can be responsible. And even today, the kind of partnership he stitched up after the first two wickets fell. Well, you know, you saw that that responsibility, uh, taking on responsibility, which is quite nice,” Uthappa further stated in praise of Tilak Varma.

He also highlighted Varma's ability to contribute with the ball. "And then when you get the ball, like, you know, I'll try and go for it. Try and get a wicket. He got a wicket. He almost got two taken that catch. Uh, you know, the return catch. So, you know, in that sense, the stuff is there. Uh, and the fact that he's a left-hander," Uthappa added.

By Salman Anjum - 14 Aug, 2023

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