Tilak Varma was the the star of India’s victory in the recent third T20I against South Africa played in Centurion on November 13, 2024. Varma helped India post a par total after South Africa captain Aiden Markram asked them to bat first.
Sanju Samson scored a duck for the second straight match, but Abhishek Sharma did well to score 50 in 25 balls. He added 107 runs for the second wicket with Tilak Varma, who was promoted to the no.3 spot.
Varma hammered 107* in 56 balls with 8 fours and 7 sixes and with Hardik Pandya (18) and Ramandeep Singh (15), took India to 219/6 in 20 overs.
In reply, India had South Africa down and out when they dismissed Heinrich Klaasen for 41, putting the score at 167/6 in 17.4 overs. But Marco Jansen smoked 54 in just 17 balls, with 5 sixes and 4 fours, taking South Africa to 208/7 in 20 overs.
The hosts fell just 11 runs short of their target and India won the match, taking a 2-1 lead in the 4-match series.
Following the triumph at SuperSport Park, India's T20I captain Suryakumar disclosed that Tilak Varma had come to his hotel room following the three-wicket loss in Gqeberha and asked to bat at number three. He so replaced Surya in the batting order, yet he had a huge impact.
“He [Tilak] came to my room at Gqeberha and said, ‘Give me a chance at No. 3, I want to do well,’ and I said, ‘Go out there and express yourself.’ He asked for it and he delivered,” Suryakumar said in post-match presentation.
On the other hand, Tilak Varma, whose century earned him the Player of the Match, said that he was proud and thanked Suryakumar for allowing him to express himself.
“I cannot put it in words. It was my dream to play for the country and the hundred came at the right time when the team needed it. All credit to Mr. Suryakumar Yadav, our captain. He allowed me to bat at 3 and told me to express myself. Thanks to him again. I just backed my basics. The pitch was two-paced to start with and it wasn’t easy for the new batters coming in when Abhishek got out. I was ready to bat long and was waiting for one partnership,” Tilak said.
This knock came as a huge relief for Tilak, who had previously scored 389 runs in 18 T20Is before the Centurion match.
Suryakumar Yadav was also happy with the performance of other batters, namely Abhishek Sharma, who was under pressure to score after not being in good form for the past 3-4 games.
“Very happy. What we spoke about in the team meeting, we played the brand of cricket we discussed. That's what we have been telling them to do. They do that for the franchise, they do that in the nets. Very happy with the way things are going. Aggression and intent are always not about talking. They have made my job easier when I see them bat like that. I feel we are in the right direction,” Suryakumar added.
The fourth and final T20I of the series will be played in Johannesburg on 15 November (Friday).
(PTI inputs)
