For the current generation of cricket fans, Tilak Varma’s image is that of a dashing, short-format batter for India and Mumbai Indians.
But over the last four days in the Duleep Trophy, the 23-year-old revealed another face – of that of a steely red-ball player. Captaining South Zone in the semifinal versus North, he made an unbeaten 116 from 250 balls to rescue his side from a precarious 80 for five. In the second essay, he was unconquered on 51 (79b) as South chased 181 with ease. Though he has featured in just two First Class matches in the last 11 months, the Hyderabad southpaw has scored 1729 runs at an average of 55.77 and a strike-rate of 52.45 from 24 long-format outings.
“I had never dreamt of playing white-ball [cricket] for India, but it’s God’s plan that I have played T20 and One-day for India. But my strength is the red-ball game. Numbers back this assertion. He also has eight centuries and six half-centuries to his name. Tilak is the vice-captain of the Indian T20I team, and leadership spurs him on, he stated. “I’ll be thinking, ‘if I am not performing, how will others? That extra pressure… I love that. It reflects in my batting too, when the team is under pressure.”
“I have always loved red-ball cricket,” Tilak said after his match-winning performance.