IND vs WI: RP Singh Backs Tilak Varma To Play For India In Other Formats After His Impressive Start To T20I Career

Tilak Varma might have played only three T20Is for Team India so far but former fast-bowler RP Singh believes the highly-rated batsman is ready to represent the country in other formats as well.

After impressing in the domestic circuit and in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the southpaw earned his maiden call-up from the Indian team for the ongoing T20I series against West Indies and he has hit the ground running in international cricket. In the first two games of the series, he top-scored for Team India before playing a mature knock of 49 not out in the third T20I on Tuesday (August 8).

On his debut, he scored 39 while in the second game, he scored 51 to help India post a challenging total after a poor start. In the third T20I, he joined Suryakumar Yadav when India lost both of their openers cheaply in pursuit of 160.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

The youngster showed remarkable maturity as he added 87 runs for the third wicket with Suryakumar before the latter departed. Tilak Varma, on the other hand, remained till the end and made sure that India cross the finishing line with ease.

RP Singh praises Tilak Varma:

With Tilak Varma impressing in international cricket straightaway, RP Singh has said the youngster is ready to ply his trade for Team India in the other formats too. During a discussion on JioCinema, the T20 World Cup-winning bowler was asked whether Tilak Varma is mature enough to be considered for other formats. In reply, RP Singh said:

“He has put in his slip and everyone should read it as well. No. 4, left-handed batter – he ticks all the boxes. When he was selected for the T20 format, his List A career was checked. He was a proper List A player before the IPL.”

“He used to build his innings and win matches for his team. He values his wicket. You wouldn’t see him playing too many shots while stepping out. He chooses shots that are close to being technically correct. He has changed his game slightly in the T20 format,” added RP Singh.

Varma does have a very impressive record in List A cricket. So far, the 20-year-old has scored 1236 runs in 25 innings at an excellent average of 56.18 and an impressive strike rate of 101.64.

“The good thing about his batting is that he drives the first ball if it is there for the drive, he has a fearless approach for sure, but he also sees where to hit the ball. It is not that you go and hit sixes. He played a drive and then made room to hit a four with an upper cut.

“He understands the game very well. He is seeing the length of the deliveries and figuring out where to play them. He plays risky shots but they are calculated. So he is also judging the game well,” said RP Singh.