Young batter Tilak Varma’s performance was one of the very few positives for India in their two-wicket defeat against West Indies in the second T20I in Guyana on Sunday (August 6).
Batting at No. 4, Tilak slammed 51 off 41 balls to help the visitors post a competitive 152/7 on the board. The stylish left-hander struck 5 fours and 1 six in his knock.
However, his maiden T20I half-century went in vain as the hosts chased down the target of 153 with two wickets in hand and seven deliveries to spare.
Speaking after the game, Tilak Varma Varma credited his success to India skipper Rohit Sharma and the IPL.
“My inspiration has been Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma. I spend more time with Rohit bhai. In my first IPL, he had told me that Tilak you are an all format cricketer. It boosted my confidence. His guidance has been massive for me,” Tilak told reporters.
“Rohit Sharma has been a big support system to me. He always talk to me and tell me to enjoy the game.
“For me the turning point has been the IPL. The performance has helped me to play for India. Going forward I would like to continue it,” he added.
Tilak made his India debut in the first T20I against West Indies in Barbados last Thursday (August 3). The southpaw narrated how India coach Rahul Dravid and T20I captain Hardik Pandya’s pep talk calmed his nerves ahead of his debut match.
“I have been working with Rahul sir since my U-19 World Cup days. He always tells us to follow the basics and spend more time on the wicket.
“Hardik bhai was also telling me the same. He told me that you have done well in the domestic and the IPL, follow your basics and enjoy your game,” he stated.
With this defeat, the Men in Blue went 2-0 down in the five-match T20I series and Varma admitted that they were 10 runs short.
“Wicket was bit on the slower side and it was double paced as well. We thought anything between 150-160 will be a good score. I guess at the end we were 10 runs short,” he said.
For West Indies, wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran starred with the bat, smashing 67 off 40 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes.
“Credit goes to Pooran, the way he batted. He put the pressure on the bowlers straightaway. We knew that we needed one wicket to turn things around because it was not going to be easy for a new batter,” Varma said.
“They bowled really good. They were hitting the hard lengths and used the slower one’s nicely. They used the wind nicely as well. All credit to them. We will sit and have a chat and will comeback stronger,” he added.
The third T20I is scheduled to be played at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Tuesday (August 8).
(The Indian Express Inputs)
