Tilak finished the series as the leading run-scorer, amassing 280 runs in four T20Is, at an incredible strike rate of 198.58.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav’s decision to promote youngster Tilak Varma to the number three position in the third and fourth T20Is against South Africa turned out to be an excellent move.
Tilak, who had been batting at number four in the first two games, asked Suryakumar for a chance to move up the order. Without hesitation, Suryakumar gave up his number three spot to let the 22-year-old take the responsibility.
After Virat Kohli’s retirement from T20Is, Suryakumar Yadav took over the number three spot. However, in the last two matches of the series, he stepped aside to make way for Tilak Varma, who seized the opportunity by scoring consecutive centuries on tough South African courts. The decision turned out to be a success.
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Suryakumar Yadav compares Tilak Varma to Virat Kohli
In the post-match press conference, Suryakumar Yadav highlighted Virat Kohli’s consistent success at number three and saw it as a perfect opportunity for young Tilak Varma to take up that role. Suryakumar and Tilak discussed the move and agreed that it was the right time for Tilak to take responsibility, not only for the current series but also for the future.
“In fact, it was on my mind that there was a time when a man had consistently reached number three and done wonders for India. This was a perfect situation, a perfect opportunity for a youngster and definitely someone like him,” Suryakumar said in the post-match press conference.
“I mean the way he batted at the Super Sport Park and also here today, it was incredible, and I hope he continues to do the same not just in T20 cricket but in all Indian formats,” he said.
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Tilak finished the series as the leading run-scorer.
Tilak Varma showed his ability to score quickly in both Centurion and Johannesburg. In his first match as number three during the third T20I at Centurion, he played an impressive knock of 107* off just 56 balls, including eight boundaries and seven sixes.
He raised the bar even further in the fourth T20I in Johannesburg, blasting 120* off 47 balls, taking India to a massive total of 283/1, the highest score ever achieved by any team in South Africa.
Tilak finished the series as the leading run-scorer, amassing 280 runs in four T20Is, at an incredible strike rate of 198.58.
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