Former India head coach Ravi Shastri lauded Mumbai Indians batter, Tilak Varma for his staggering performance in the league–and expects the youngster to play for the country very soon. The 20-year-old has managed to score 214 runs at a strike rate of 158.51 from five matches.
The left-handed batter was brought by the five-time champion for INR 1.7 crore before the 2022 edition following his exploits in the Under-19 World Cup in 2020. In IPL 2023 he showed the ability to anchor the innings at a very strike rate–and rescue the team in case of a top-order failure.
Former Indian World Cup winner Ravi Shastri lauded the youngster as the standout performer in the league and believes that he would soon bang the doors of the Indian team, stating his all-round ability to play in all the stages of the game.
“A standout player is Tilak Varma, who I think I said in the second game or third game on the commentary I said he is an Indian Player in the near future.
“He will be banging that door down because he has got that all-round ability not just to finish it off at the end, the clarity of thought when he comes out to bat, what impresses me the most is his first ten balls, he is not afraid to take his chances, play shots, back his strengths,” Ravi Shastri said.
The stylish left-handed batsman from Hyderabad had a very good debut season for Mumbai Indians as he scored an impressive 397 runs in 14 innings at an average of 36.07–and a strike rate of 131.02.
He Doesn’t Play The Name, He Plays The Ball – Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri said that the youngster doesn’t shy away from taking on any bowlers citing the words of their skipper Rohit Sharma. The left-handed batter has done very well in the roles given to him for the five-time champions in the league so far.
“As Rohit said in a very good line at the presentation yesterday, he is not worried about the reputation in the sense that he is not overawed by the bowler, he plays what’s on offer, he plays irrespective of the name, he doesn’t play the name, he plays the ball and which is there for everyone to see,” he stated.
Shastri continued that Tilak Varma has got a wide range of shots and can play with good temperament. Besides, he asserted that he has improved as a player in IPL 2023.
“He has got a wide range of shots, he has got the temperament, he looked very well last year but he is looking better this year, you watch for players who improve,” Ravi Shastri added.
Mumbai Indians had made a brilliant comeback winning three games in a row after facing back-to-back defeats in the first two games they played, for their sixth game in the season, Rohit Sharma-led side will take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Saturday at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.