"Turning Point Has Been...": Tilak Varma's Special Tribute To Rohit Sharma After Scoring Maiden T20I Fifty

07.08.2023 - 17:15 sports.ndtv.com

Team India faced a shocking two-wicket defeat against West Indies in the second ODI on Sunday. With this loss, the Hardik Pandya-led side has gone down 0-2 in the five-match series.

Opting to bat first, Team India posted a total of 152/7. Later, West Indies comfortably chased down the target in just 18.5 overs as Nicholas Pooran scored 67 off 40 balls.

In the match where the entire batting unit miserably failed, it was young Tilak Varma, who stood up for Team India and scored a half-century to take the visitors to a respectable total.

Tilak, who was making his second international appearance, expressed gratitude towards his Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma for showing faith in him.

cricket India Cricket Team West Indies Cricket Team 2023 West Indies vs India Rohit Sharma Tilak Varma India

India went on an experimentation spree in the limited overs series against the West Indies but not much came out of it except Tilak Varma emerging as a contender for a World Cup middle-order slot on the back of his exploits in the T20 series. Ahead of the Asia Cup and subsequent World Cup, India were looking for options in the middle-order in the ODI series but the number four slot remains up for grabs.

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It was a disappointing day for Team India as they lost the series-deciding fifth T20I against West Indies on Sunday. The Hardik Pandya led-side had put up a total of 165/9 in 20 overs after opting to bat first. However, the chase turned out to be a cakewalk for the hosts as they went across the line in just 18 overs with eight wickets in hand. Despite ending up on the losing side, this series turned out to be really memorable for young batter Tilak Varma as his all-round talent got exposed during the last match.

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After India's bowling coach Paras Mhambrey said that the team is working on the bowling abilities of young batters like Tilak Varma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, country's former batter Wasim Jaffer backed the idea. However, Jaffer said that he believes both the players need some more time to be prepared to bowl in international cricket. The top-order batters haven't been able to contribute with part-time bowling around the last decade or so and that has hurt India's balance badly in crucial games.

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Yashasvi Jaiswal hammered an explosive 84 not out of 51 balls as India thrashed West Indies by nine wickets in the fourth T20I in Lauderhill on Saturday. Jaiswal pummelled West Indies all across the park, hitting 11 fours and three sixes during his stay in the middle, and helped the visitors level the five-match series ahead of the decider later today. The 21-year-old not only won the Player of the Match, but also broke a huge record held by India captain Rohit Sharma.

"Hardik Pandya Doesn't Have To Be A MS Dhoni": Ex-India Opener's Blunt Take On Noise Over Tilak Varma Missing 50

Hardik Pandya, India's skipper for the T20I series against West Indies, received a lot of flak on social media for 'denying' young gun Tilak Varma a shot at scoring half-century in the third T20I against West Indies. With Varma batting on 49*, Pandya, who was at the strike, hit a six to finish the match and take India home in the must-win game. Though India romped home comfortably, Pandya was called selfish for the act.

Could Tilak Varma Play In 2023 ODI World Cup? Rohit Sharma Answers The Big Question

The emergence of young batter Tilak Varma has given the Indian cricket team and its fans plenty of hope. The left-handed batter did wonders for the team in the first three T20Is against West Indies, playing a responsible yet attractive style of batting. His success made many wonder whether the 20-year-old batter can be considered the No. 4 spot in the Indian team for the ODI World Cup 2023. India skipper Rohit Sharma, when asked about the same, didn't shut the doors on his Mumbai Indians teammate.