'Superstar' Tilak Varma can become 'all-format player': CSK legend sends message to Ajit Agarkar

Former India National Cricket Team and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batsman Ambati Rayudu lauded the young batter Tilak Varma, saying that he is a 'superstar cricketer'.

Ambati Rayudu believes that Tilak Varma has the potential to dominate with the bat in ODIs and Tests along with T20Is, and he can become an all-format cricketer for the India National Cricket Team.

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I feel India have got a huge superstar and he can become an all-format player - Ambati Rayudu on Tilak Varma

In an interaction on Star Sports, Rayudu lavished praise on Tilak Varma following his batting masterclass at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai, in the second T20I against England.

The maturity shown by Tilak Varma impressed Rayudu, who urged the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee to groom the youngster and make him a three-format player.

"He is a superstar cricketer and I have seen him grow in Hyderabad. He has played four extraordinary knocks. Since Suryakumar Yadav has become the captain, the confidence he has been given and the trust that has been shown in him, he is paying him back fully," he said.

"I feel India have got a huge superstar and he can become an all-format player. It's not that he is only a T20 player. Considering the maturity he showed today (Saturday), he has the ability to be a match-winner for India for many years. So I feel he should be backed in every format," he added.

England came with a plan that they would bowl short against Tilak Varma - Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu further talked about how Tilak Varma ruined the plans of the England bowlers by batting exceptionally well in Chennai. He elaborated:

"England came with a plan that they would bowl short against Tilak Varma, wouldn't give him room, and make him play the pull shot towards fine leg. However, Tilak Varma had all the answers.

"He used the pace very well. Angles are extremely important in batting. He was hitting the balls wherever he wanted using the pace. He batted exceptionally with the right approach and execution, and I don't think England will again try to bowl like this."

Tilak Varma created history with a match-winning knock in the 2nd T20I

Varma was the lone warrior for the hosts in the second T20I against the Three Lions and he played a Virat Kohli-esque knock to steer his team to an epic victory.

Varma didn't get much support from the other end, but he stood strong in the middle and played a sensational knock of 72 runs to guide India to the win.

With his Chennai heroics, he took his tally to 318 runs in T20Is without getting out. Varma created history and broke the previous record, which was held by New Zealand's Mark Chapman, who had scored 271 runs between his two dismissals. Also, Varma surpassed Virat Kohli's tally of 258 runs across four consecutive T20I innings.