By India Today Sports Desk: India youngster Tilak Varma made a brilliant debut for the national team against West Indies. The 20-year-old made his international debut on 3 August, 2023, against West Indies. His performance was nothing short of spectacular, scoring a quickfire 39 runs off just 22 balls and taking two catches in his first T20I for India.
Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer, in an interview with ESPNCricinfo, lauded Varma’s performance ahead of the 2nd T20I game, set to be played on 6 August.
“He looked impressive. There were no nerves at all. The way he started, it seemed like he was playing a club game or for his state team. No pressure at all,” Jaffer said.
Jaffer went on to commend Varma’s mental strength and his ability to back his game.
“That’s the good thing about him – it shows that he’s mentally very strong. He was the only one who looked very comfortable on this pitch,” he added.
Varma’s batting prowess was not the only aspect of his game that caught Jaffer’s eye. He also appreciated the variety of shots that Varma played during his innings.
“The shots that he played, not just the big ones, even the slices through third man and the other shots, shows that he was in good form,” Jaffer noted.
However, Jaffer rued the fact that Varma was not able to score a few more runs, which could have put India in a dominant position in the game.
“He would be disappointed that he couldn’t score 20-odd more runs. If Varma had got 50 or 60, India would have got home. Sanju Samson’s run-out also cost them. He was looking good,” he added.
Despite the loss, Varma’s debut has been a beacon of hope for Indian cricket. His performance has not only earned him accolades from former cricketers but also from his peers. His teammate Arshdeep Singh praised him saying, “he is massively talented and he did so well on his debut.”
Varma’s journey in cricket has been remarkable. From making his first-class debut for Hyderabad in the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy to representing Mumbai Indians in the IPL, and now making his mark in international cricket, Varma has shown immense potential.
