As the Indian cricket landscape constantly evolves with emerging talent, one such rising star, Tilak Varma, marked his impressive India debut back in August. Inserting himself into the national consciousness during the five-match T20I series against the West Indies, Tilak emerged as the series’ top run-getter. Yet, despite his vibrant start, the young southpaw acknowledges his quest to perfect a critical aspect of his game – finishing matches.
Tilak has identified fellow teammate Rinku Singh as his mentor for this craft. “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,” Tilak expressed his aspirations confidently ahead of India’s second T20I against Australia in Thiruvananthapuram.
Rinku himself earned accolades earlier that week in Vishakhapatnam, where he played a pivotal role in securing India’s triumph in the first T20I. It wasn’t just another win; it was the highest ever chase by India in T20I, a testament to Rinku’s finishing prowess.
The 26-year-old’s T20 credentials surged exponentially following his extraordinary performance in the IPL season earlier in the year. Amassing 474 runs across 14 innings at an impressive strike rate of 149.53, Rinku distinguished himself as a cornerstone for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Notably, his heroics in a nerve-wracking match against the Gujarat Titans, where he clattered five consecutive sixes, underlined his role as a clinical finisher.
Tilak, while soaking in the learning, outlined his mindset and approach regarding his position in the Indian team. “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,” he detailed, emphasizing the balance between aggression and circumspection.
However, in the first T20I of the series, he found himself back in the pavilion with just 12 runs off 10 balls, unable to make a significant impact. Reflecting on that dismissal, Tilak acknowledged the tactical call. “Last match, in that situation, a leg-spinner was bowling. I wanted to take charge as we needed 10 per over in that situation. It was decided I will go at the leg-spinner, and for a fast bowler, settled batsman Surya bhai was batting,” he clarified.
Despite the occasional setback, Tilak remains buoyed by his recent form with the bat. “Before this series, I played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy and my performance was good, and I was confident, so I haven’t worked on any specific areas but aim to continue the good form,” said Tilak, who topped the run charts for Hyderabad with 288 runs at a strike rate of 143, including a hundred and a fifty.
His resolve and commitment highlight the character needed to execute the finale in high-stakes matches. Being able to identify an area for growth and actively seeking guidance reflects the maturity of this young talent. With a sturdy foundation laid in domestic circuits and an eye towards evolving under the guidance of accomplished finishers like Rinku Singh, foreseeably, Tilak Varma is all set to strengthen his finishing credentials and craft his own legacy as one of India’s reliable closers in the demanding world of international cricket.