Abhishek Sharma brutally sidelined as Tilak Varma declared the chosen one destined for greatness

Tilak Varma’s rise in Indian cricket has been nothing short of extraordinary, and former World Cup winner Irfan Pathan believes that this young star is well on his way to greatness. Tilak Varma, who has become a key part of India’s T20I setup, continues to make headlines with his consistency, composure, and fearless approach at the crease.

Since making his debut in 2023 during the West Indies tour, the left-handed batter has been a revelation for India in the shortest format of the game. In just 32 appearances, he has amassed 962 runs at an impressive average of 53.44 and a strike rate of 149.15.

Tilak Varma eyes a strong impact on maiden Australia tour

His numbers reflect both maturity and power. The Hyderabad cricketer’s latest match-winning heroics in the 2025 Asia Cup Final against Pakistan not only sealed India’s title but also cemented his reputation as a dependable performer under pressure.

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Building on that momentum, Tilak continued his sublime form in domestic cricket, hammering a fluent 94 for India ‘A’ against Australia ‘A’ in Kanpur. The 22-year-old’s consistency earned him a well-deserved place in India’s squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Australia. Notably, he is now the world’s No. 3-ranked T20I batter.

Tilak Varma is heading towards greatness: Irfan Pathan

Meanwhile, Irfan Pathan was really impressed by the youngster’s evolution and sees him as one of India’s biggest match-winners for the future. He believes that Australian conditions will suit Tilak’s stroke play perfectly, as he thrives when the ball comes nicely onto the bat.

Irfan Pathan said in a video on his YouTube channel, “Tilak Varma has put up outstanding numbers already. It feels like Tilak is heading towards greatness, but there is still time for that; he has to maintain his performances. After his knock in the Asia Cup Final, his place rose in the eyes of all the experts who were watching that game. I think his ideal position is No. 3, but if he bats at No. 4, and the pitch is quick, it does not make a difference. So, I feel that he will prefer playing on Australian pitches.”

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Irfan Pathan backs Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma and Jasprit Bumrah to lead India’s charge against Australia

Alongside Abhishek Sharma’s fearless starts and Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance with the ball, the former Indian all-rounder reckoned that Tilak will be the third match-winner for the Men in Blue in the upcoming T20I series against Australia, starting on October 29 in Canberra.

Pathan signed off by saying, “The three match-winners in this side are Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Jasprit Bumrah. I don't think anyone comes close to Abhishek Sharma when it comes to fearless hitting. Even in the Asia Cup, we saw that he gave India strong starts in all matches; except for the final, he was taking on the big bowlers from the first ball itself. This is why a strong player like Yashasvi Jaiswal is still on the bench.”