Former India batter Aakash Chopra praised Tilak Varma for his match-winning innings in the second T20I of the three-match series against Zimbabwe. Chopra said the left-hander answered his critics with the bat after facing repeated questions over his place in India's T20I side.
India secured a 90-run win in the second T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday, July 25. They posted a mammoth total of 219/5 before bowling Zimbabwe out for 129. Tilak played an unbeaten knock of 60 off 29 balls, helping India seal the three-match series with one game to spare.
A Little More Confidence Should Be Shown - Aakash Chopra Defends Tilak Varma
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that batting in the lower middle order is not easy. Chopra urged fans to show more patience and stop questioning Tilak Varma after every series.
"If the team had to reach 219, Tilak Varma's contribution was necessary. You would turn back and say it's Zimbabwe. A guy can only score runs against whichever team is there in front of him. Batting down the order is not easy. Tilak tries to accelerate. He is doing his bit, and a little patience is required," Chopra said.
"It won't work out if we ask for a player to be dropped after every series. From that point of view, this Tilak Varma knock was a slight reminder of sorts that a little more confidence should be shown in him. He has been trolled a lot as to why he has been kept in the team. He is doing his job, and he is doing a difficult job."
Tilak has an impressive record for India in T20Is. He has scored 1,634 runs in 55 innings at an average of 44.16 and a strike rate of 145.37, including two centuries and nine half-centuries.
You Don't Play for Milestones - Aakash Chopra Lauds Ishan Kishan
Aakash Chopra also praised Ishan Kishan for his knock, saying the wicketkeeper-batter always looked to increase India's scoring rate instead of slowing down to reach a personal milestone.
"When two players get out early, it becomes slightly difficult. However, Ishan Kishan came after that, and he was looking very good for a century. Seventeen balls were still left when he got out," Chopra said.
"However, when you play aggressively, you don't play for milestones. You think less about them. You only think about maximizing, and that is exactly what Ishan Kishan was doing."
Ishan shared a crucial 66-run partnership with Shreyas Iyer for the third wicket after India slipped to 29/2. He scored 81 off 44 balls and steadied the batting before Tilak Varma provided the finishing touch. The left-hander won the Player of the Match award.
This Is My Time - Aakash Chopra On India's Batting Order
Aakash Chopra also said that sending Ishan Kishan at No. 3 was the right decision because India needed an experienced batter to rebuild the innings after losing two quick wickets.
"Had we had a good opening partnership, I would have asked Ishan not to be sent and Rinku to be sent instead because you have selected him and not given him chances thus far," Chopra observed.
"However, when two early wickets fell, you had to send Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer had to come because it was a rebuilding stage. So Ishan Kishan came and hit so much, and said, 'This is my time.'"
After rebuilding the innings, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma added 94 runs for the fourth wicket, helping India post 219/5. The visitors then bowled Zimbabwe out for 129 to seal the series with one match remaining.
