I want to target their best bowlers: Tilak

Tilak Varma plays a pull shot.
| Photo Credit: R. RAGU

In cricket, nailing transitions from one era to another is often tricky and involves a phase during which the new hires take time to find their feet.

India, though, has been lucky in that regard in T20 cricket. The next crop has comfortably filled the shoes left by Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, all of whom exited the scene after winning last year’s World Cup.

Tilak Varma is one such player from the next-gen who has made a telling impact in a short time at the crucial No.3 spot. His last four scores in T20Is reads as 107 not out, 120 not out, 19 not out and 72 not out. The most recent one, which came against England on Saturday here at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, could be one of the best knocks he has played in his brief career so far.

Tilak showed bravery in taking on England’s pace spearhead, Jofra Archer, and did so with conviction by making the requisite technical adjustments.

“If you see, I want to target their best bowlers,” said Tilak. “If you take on their best bowlers, other bowlers will be under pressure. So, even when the wickets are falling, I wanted to do that because it is easier for the (batter) at the other end.”

“I backed myself and took chances against him. Whatever shots I have scored for Archer, I have worked in the nets. Mentally, I was ready for that. So, it has given me a good result,” he explained.

The left-handed batter smoked Archer for 30 runs off just nine balls, that included four sixes.

On a day when the pull shot proved to be the undoing of batters from both sides because the ball held off the surface, Tilak gave insights into how he executed it so well and was the most assured batter out in the park.

“They were consistently bowling short, and Archer and (Mark) Wood were bowling 150kph, I think. With that pace, I think it will be slightly tougher if you want to hit it square of the wicket. So, I wanted to use the pace and hit it behind (fine) as much. That’s what I have done, and it has given me success.”

Another striking aspect of his innings was how seamlessly he switched gears, attacking when needed but also being circumspect at times.

“That is what I discussed with Gautam sir in the last match. He said that ‘you can score at over 10 (an over) and below that also. When the team requires, you should be flexible’,” said the Hyderabad-born player.

“During the drinks break, he said that ‘it is the time that you can show the people that you can play both (ways)’. So, I said that whatever happens, I will stay till the end and finish the game.”