When a cricketer with a record of three successive T20 hundreds says he’s “more of a Test and one-day format player”, that’s some statement indeed. Young Tilak Varma, fresh from such a record, views himself that way.
The 22-year-old’s breathtaking strokeplay earned him back-to-back unbeaten centuries in India’s dominant 3-1 T20I series win in South Africa before he smashed 151 for Hyderabad in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy clash against Meghalaya in Rajkot last month. But success in the shortest format isn’t all for Tilak, who’s yearning for much more.
“I’m more of a one-day (International) and Test player. I’m pretty confident that I will be an all-format player very soon. Just waiting for that opportunity,” Tilak told The Telegraph from Rajkot on Saturday evening.
“I have done recently well in the Duleep Trophy and India A games. If you see my domestic one-day figures, they’re also pretty good. I also got something around 56 (52) in an ODI in South Africa last year (in Paarl).
“I’ve made a comeback in the T20 format after recovering from the injuries. I’m just waiting for the opportunity in ODI and Test cricket. That is my actual format.”
His 51.33 average in T20Is aside, Tilak’s numbers in 18 first-class appearances so far are quite impressive — five centuries and four fifties, averaging 50.16. The left-hander’s ODI experience is only of four matches, but in 29 List A games so far, he has five centuries and six fifties at an average of 52.16.
Tilak’s confidence and figures both appear like a form of assurance that it won’t be too long before the current T20 specialist makes himself a vital component in at least one of the two other formats. His confidence of course stems from the overwhelming success he has had in the recent T20Is in South Africa.
Yes, the Proteas were without Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, yet not much can be taken away from Tilak as he had to adjust to the South African conditions and the bouncier surfaces there.
“I worked a lot after the injuries (left-finger dislocation and right-thumb fracture). I missed the series against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. I didn’t get a chance in the Bangladesh series, so I was really eager and waiting for the opportunity in South Africa.
“I always practise with my childhood coach Salam Bayash. I had played before in South Africa, so I know how challenging it can be there. The weather was slightly on the cooler side with extra bounce. So, to counter the bounce, I needed to practise a bit differently.
“I batted against some plastic and synthetic balls with my coach and had also visualised how the wickets would be. So, when the matches got underway, I was prepared for that and I was good at the crease,” Tilak, leading Hyderabad in the national T20s at present, said recalling his preparation for the South Africa tour.
Power-hitting
The 17 sixes Tilak unleashed across his unbeaten 107 and 120 in Centurion and Johannesburg, respectively, underline his ability as a power-hitter. Speaking on the aspect of power-hitting, which is one important part of T20 batting, Tilak said: “Since childhood, I have got a good swing of the bat. That good swing helps me to clear the boundaries.
“Having said that, I adapted my mindset and slightly changed it for my T20 batting, which has helped.”
So, what was the slight change Tilak made in his mindset? “The base in T20 cricket, which is very important for a batsman...
“I made my base stronger regarding the stance and the position, especially when tackling short balls. I have thus been able to score a lot of runs off short balls, with more scoring opportunities too in my areas."
