‘I was playing Duleep Trophy at the time’: Tilak Varma shares anecdotes of his Indian call-up | Cricket News
Even though India lost the first T20I in Trinidad against the West Indies on Thursday, young Tilak Varma on his international debut sizzled with a fluent 39-run cameo. The 20-year-old revealed he was playing Duleep trophy when he first got to know that he would be travelling to West Indies for the T20I leg of the series.
Speaking on BCCI.tv and Ishan Kishan, Varma said, “I was playing Duleep Trophy at the time and that night the squad was getting announced. I called my parents and coach. They were very happy and emotional after the news of my selection.”
The Mumbai Indians player had a fabulous IPL 2023 scoring 343 runs from 11 outings with an average of 42.88 and a strike rate of 164.11.
Emotions after maiden call-up 🤗Giving 💯 percent with the bat 💪Favourite song 🤔
We caught up with #TeamIndia Debutant @TilakV9 before the start of the #WIvIND T20I series 👌👌
WATCH his full conversation with @ishankishan51 🎥🔽 – @ameyatilak https://t.co/vqZG1Kabwx pic.twitter.com/5a405KR3kP
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 6, 2023
When asked about his journey of handling pressure in the IPL and consently performing to get selected for India, Varma said, “In the first IPL you feel like you need to do well to get more opportunities. I didn’t think much about getting selected for the national team. Of course, everyone wans to play for India so I just stuck to my process and I got the result.”
India lost a close encounter in the first T20I against West Indies with the hosts starting the 5-match T20 series strongly after losing the Test series and the ODI series.
“West Indies are a good T20I side and I just want to focus on my basics and do well. I can get a bit nervous at times as it is my first series but I want to give my hundred per cent I have spoken to Rahul sir in the practice session and I have been backed to play my natural game. In that process if I get out, then it’s okay,” Varma said.
