Tilak Varma owns No.3 spot in his own unique style after asking skipper SKY to give him an opportunity at 3.
Tilak Varma kept telling himself “mera time aayega” after missing out earlier India tours due to injury.
He had fallen in the hierarchy by the time he recovered. He was not included in the initial squad for the Bangladesh T20Is either, but he was called up at the last minute when Shivam Dube pulled out due to a back injury. In that series, Tilak did not receive a game.
His return to the Indian colours was thus signified by the current assignment against South Africa. In the opening Twenty20 International in Durban, he scored 33 runs off of 18 balls, but in Gqeberha, he only scored 20 runs per ball.
Prior to the third game in Centurion, Tilak said that he was feeling pressured. That was his innings on Wednesday; if he hadn’t said it himself, nobody would have guessed. He reached an undefeated 107 off 56 balls with eight fours and seven sixes. It gave India a decisive 2-1 lead in the four-match series by propelling them to 219 for 6.
Tilak became the second-youngest player to score a T20I century during his innings, at the age of 22 years and 5 days. The maturity with which he changed gears, however, was what made his knock stand out.
Tilak entered at No. 3 when Sanju Samson was removed for his second consecutive duck of the evening, and he was just two balls old.
Later, India captain Suryakumar Yadav stated that the choice was not made on the spur of the moment.
“In Gqeberha, he [Tilak] came to my room and said, ‘Give me the opportunity to bat at No. 3. Let me express myself.'”
Suryakumar took his time and on Tuesday night told Tilak, “You are going to bat at No. 3… Express yourself.”
Tilak attacked Marco Jansen, which is consistent with India’s recent cricket style. He skipped down the track to blast the left-arm fast over deep third for a six after punching the second ball he faced past point for four.
However, there was a modest two-pacing in the pitch. Tilak tried a pull in Jansen’s subsequent over but missed the shot. The ball passed over the wicketkeeper after brushing his helmet. Jansen drilled a slower one into the pitch later in the over. Tilak missed the ball completely this time because he was too early in his pull.
Aiden Markam came on as soon as the pitch restrictions were loosened. It made sense to sneak in an offspin over with two left-handers in the middle. Tilak Varma displayed his genius at this point by changing his position and sweeping Markram over backward point for a six.
When Abhishek was removed from the game, Tilak was on 45 off 27 balls. He only managed ten runs off his next nine deliveries. India’s scoring pace fell below 10 runs per over for the first time during the game. Tilak realised it was time to step up and take advantage of the matchup when Keshav Maharaj began his last over, which was the fifteenth of the innings.
He had only encountered three balls from Maharaj up to that point. And he had hit three singles off of them. He went 4, 6, 4, 1 now. Gerald Coetzee missed his lengths in the following over, hitting his first ball too full and his third too short. Both were sent beyond the boundary line by Tilak.
Despite Rinku’s meagre 8 off 13 balls, Tilak’s quickness made sure India’s innings didn’t falter like it had in the first Twenty20 International. He pointed and then blew a kiss in the direction of the Indian dugout to celebrate reaching his century off 51 balls. It was his turn.
“I cannot put my feelings into words,” he said. “It was my dream to hit a hundred for the country and I had been waiting for this moment for a long time. Coming back from an injury and hitting a hundred is incredible.
“It [the celebration] was for Surya, because he gave me this opportunity to bat at No. 3. I had told him that I was going to perform. That’s why I pointed towards him.”