Tilak Varma’s inclusion was one of the highlights of India’s Asia Cup 2023 squad announced by the BCCI men's selection committee on Monday (August 21).
The southpaw made his India debut during the T20I series against West Indies earlier this month. He instantly left a mark with his consistency and maturity, registering scores of 39, 51*, 49*, 7* and 27 from five innings.
Varma’s brilliance in the shortest format resulted in him receiving a maiden call-up to the India ODI side.
While Tilak’s inclusion drew a mixed response, veteran India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik has endorsed the selection and also wants the left-hander to be considered for No.4 spot at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023.
Karthik also lauded Tilak Varma for the way he adapted to international cricket.
"I was very impressed with Tilak Varma," Karthik said during a Cricket World Cup commercial shoot with Emirates.
"I think he showed different sorts of temperament to his batting at times he went all guns blazing up the order, then there was a game where he had to finish it off with Hardik Pandya and he did that as well.
"More important is that he can add off-spin and we have not had somebody who can roll their arm over so that makes that player very special."
At a time when India are on the lookout for a middle-order batter who can solve its No. 4 conundrum, Tilak Varma can strengthen his claims with good performances in the upcoming Asia Cup if he gets an opportunity.
One thing in Tilak’s favour is that he is a left-hander in a batting line-up comprised of right-handed players predominantly.
"Do we need a left hander? Do we look at Tilak Varma or is Suryakumar (Yadav) that option," Karthik pondered.
"Is it wrong to say he (Suryakumar) is just a right-hander because he plays all the types of sweeps that are available in the game and makes it really hard for the spinners.”
While Shreyas Iyer is the front-runner to fill the crucial No.4 slot at the World Cup, the fact that he is returning from back surgery will provide chances to other players.
"I think Shreyas Iyer is the right player given his form and the scores he put together over the last eight months before getting injured," Karthik said.
"He has probably been the in-form batter at No.4, but with that there is going to be a small issue.
"India is going to be filled with right handers with six out of the top seven (being) right handers and (Ravindra) Jadeja is at No.7, so can Jadeja bat that little bit higher to bring that left-hand, right hand combination that is a big question mark for India.
"Because leading into the World Cup we are going to find pitches that take spin and you are going to need left handers and where does India stand with six right handers in that top seven."
(With ICC Inputs)
