Tilak Varma, the talented young cricketer from Hyderabad, is set to become the next big thing in the Indian Premier League (IPL), yet his mission extends beyond personal acclaim. Varma has expressed a strong desire to absorb the game-finishing prowess of his national teammate Rinku Singh, a skill that Singh has been effectively demonstrating on the international stage.
Rinku Singh, the left-handed batsman from Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh, has become synonymous with his role as a finisher – a role he’s embraced and excelled in through various matches. His poise under pressure, especially in the death overs, is something the cricket fraternity has taken note of and commended. This was palpable even in the first T20 International against Australia, wherein India claimed victory by two wickets. Although Singh’s potential winning six was ultimately deemed invalid due to a no-ball by the bowler Nathan Ellis, his composure remained the highlight.
“I am learning how to finish games from Rinku as he is doing it consistently for India. I also want to do and hopefully in coming matches I will be doing that,” remarked Tilak Varma, sharing his learning curve prior to the second T20 International in a series of five matches.
Tilak, also a southpaw, has already caught the attention in his 11 T20I outings for India, marking his presence with two fifties and a compelling strike rate over 140. “There is no pressure of expectation on me. I just have a role and I have to fulfill that role for the team. My role at No. 5 is, if it’s in my arc, I will go for it or else just rotate the strike,” Tilak elaborated on his approach as a batter.
In his recent performance, Tilak was seen taking charge against a leg-spinner when the team needed an aggressive push in their run chase. He credits his consistency to a free-spirited approach and not fixating on any specific areas for improvement during the break when the senior team was competing in the ODI World Cup. His proactive involvement in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he topped the run-scoring charts for his team with 288 runs, including a century and a half-century, speaks volumes of his confidence and determined mindset.
In addition to his batting skillset, there’s a noticeable degree of ease when Tilak plays under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, the Mumbai Indians’ skipper for a game. Appreciative of Suryakumar’s cool-headed and articulate style of captaincy, Tilak acknowledges the positive influence it has had on the team, especially in challenging situations.
Tilak’s inclination toward leadership shows through his willingness to share thoughts and strategies with senior captains, such as Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav. “All 11 members need to be involved, every player gets thoughts and passes them on, and it rests on the captain, which suggestions he wants to take,” he said, emphasizing the importance of team contribution.
When questioned about the upcoming matches and whether there was a sentiment of retaliation against Australia for their defeat of India in the World Cup final, Tilak responded by echoing a collective ethos that resonates with the team’s spirit, “We just want to go with the flow and take it one game at a time.”
In the high-stakes arena of international cricket, where every match is an opportunity to either leave a mark or learn, it’s players like Tilak Varma, with their aspiration to adapt and evolve, that keep the hopes of millions of cricket enthusiasts soaring. As the Indian team prepares for their next challenge, Varma’s goals to improve his game-finishing skills and contribute significantly to the team’s success will surely be something to watch out for.
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