Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Tilak Varma on Wednesday (4th May) said that getting his debut cap from Rohit Sharma gave him the confidence to do well. He also talked about the advice skipper and head coach Mahela Jayawardena gave him.
In what has been a horrendous season for MI, Tilak has emerged as the biggest positive for the five-time champions. While almost every MI batter has struggled at some stage, the southpaw has looked the most settled batter in their line-up.
The 19-year-old is the leading run-getter for MI this season, with 307 runs to his name at an average and strike rate of 43.86 and 137.05 respectively. He also has scored three-half centuries with 61 being his best score so far.
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It’s fair to say that this season Tilak has been the backbone of MI's batting line-up as he has played some staggering knocks and has bailed his side out of trouble many a time.
Speaking to Mumbai Indians, Tilak Varma said that he always was in awe of skipper Rohit Sharma and getting his debut cap from him gave him the confidence. He also talked about the advice and the lessons that the Indian captain gave him.
"I always liked Rohit bhai, so getting the cap from him really pumped me up and gave me confidence. He (Rohit) keeps telling me that I shouldn't take pressure in any situation, and says, 'The way you enjoy and play, keep enjoying your game that way.
“He would say 'you're young, this is the time to enjoy it. If you ever lose that, it doesn't come back. So the more you enjoy yourself and play, positive things will come to you. Bad days will come, good days will also come,” Tilak Varma said.
Tilak said that the advice Rohit gave him is working for him. He also talked about head coach Mahela Jayawardena, who makes suggestions about his batting.
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He said that if he ever gets out playing the attacking shot, Jayawardena will urge him to continue playing that shot in the next match as it is his scoring shot.
“He (Rohit) has told me to always enjoy myself and that is something I remember always. It will stay with me for my life in general too. And it is working too. If I've started well, it's because of that.
“He (Jayawardene) talks to me about my batting and makes suggestions. If I back myself to play a shot and get out in a game, he tells me to not stop myself from playing that same shot in the next game. Because that is my scoring shot, so you can get out on it too, but you'll get runs from it also. He makes one mentally strong,” he said.
Tilak also talked about his bond with Dewald Brevis and said they both understand each other well and it’s easy for him to bat with the young Proteas batter.
“Now we're so close we understand each other very well too, on the field and off it. So it's become very easy to bat with him (Brewis) in a match. When you are doing well on the field, automatically the bond becomes stronger off the field too,” he said.
MI will next face Gujarat Titans on Friday (6th May) at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
(PTI inputs)
