Former India head coach Ravi Shastri suggested that the maturity shown by Mumbai Indians (MI) batter, Tilak Varma is astonishing–and he would be very surprised if the youngster did not play for the country in the next six to eight months.
While MI won their first game this season, against Delhi Capitals (DC) by 6 wickets, Tilak scored a brilliant 41 runs in 29 balls and took his side to chase down 173 runs target.
Ravi Shastri reckons Tilak Varma will make a difference in the Indian middle order-
“India player already. This guy is an Indian player and I would be very surprised if he does not play T20 cricket for India in the next six months or eight months. He has got the maturity, he has got the flare. He will make a world of difference to the Indian middle order,” the Ex- Indian head coach said on Star Sports.
The 20-year-old batter was bought for INR 1.7 crore by Mumbai in the IPL 2022 Auction. In his debut season, he became the youngest player to score a half-century for the MI, at 19 years and 145 days. The left-handed batter ended the IPL 2022 with 397 runs at a strike rate of 131.
“He is just 20 years of age, the kind of maturity he is showing, is someone who is much older than that. It is very positive, not only from the Mumbai point of view but from the India point of view as well,” he further added.
WOW!
Two excellent shots to produce the same result ?
Tilak Varma departs not before smacking a quick-fire 41 off 29!#TATAIPL | #DCvMI pic.twitter.com/EmiLdpyyc0
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 11, 2023
MI youngster Tilak Varma scored a brilliant 84 runs off 46 balls in their tournament opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), however, Rohit Sharma-led side lost the clash.
While in the game, Rohit Sharma-led MI won the toss and elected to field first, batting first Delhi-based side was bowled out for 172 runs with Axar Patel scoring 54 (25), supported by Warner with his 51. For Mumbai, leg spinner Piyush Chawla picked three wickets, along with left-arm seamer, Jason Behrendorff.
In the run-chase, skipper Rohit Sharma led from the front, along with his opening batter partner, Ishan Kishan, the left and right-hand batting combination stitched together 71 runs for the first wicket in 7.3 overs. Sharma was the top scorer for his side with 65 runs and young batter Varma scored 41 runs off 29 deliveries. The Indians eventually won the thriller by six wickets.
Now for their 4th game of the season in IPL 2023, MI will take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 16 at Wankhede Stadium.