‘Never dreamed I would be debuting in Asia Cup directly…I’m pretty confident I can do well’: Tilak Varma on maiden ODI call up | Cricket News
Among those who were named in India’s 2023 Asia Cup squad, the inclusion of Tilak Varma is one of the big talking points, with the southpaw having recently made his India debut in the T20I format.
A maiden ODI call up following his exploits in the T20I series has been a pleasant surprise for the batter himself.
“I never dreamed that I would be debuting directly in the Asia Cup in the ODI side. I always thought that I would be debuting for India but it is a big thing for me. Playing for India, that too in a single year I got a T20 debut and the next month I get a call for the Asia Cup. I’m just preparing for it,” Varma told BCCI in a recent video.
On the backing he’s received from the Indian ODI skipper, Rohit Sharma, he added, “Rohit bhai always backed me. Even in the IPL, when I was a little nervous in the start, so he came to me and talked about the game. He said, ‘Feel free whenever you want to talk, come to me or text me. I’ll be there for you anytime.’ Everytime he said only one thing, to enjoy the game.”
Varma closed the five-match T20I series against West Indies as top scorer for India with 173 runs, averaging 57.67 and scoring at a strike rate over 140.
The southpaw feels confident that he can do well in the 50-overs format. “I want to do well. I’m pretty confident playing in ODI cricket because I’ve played the format for some time. I’ve done well in L A cricket for my state and in U19. I’m pretty confident that I can do well.”
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In the lead up to the continental tournament and the ODI World Cup, Tilak Varma received backing from the likes of former India head coach Ravi Shastri and former national team selector Sandeep Patil.
“100 per cent [if India should hand a debut to Tilak Varma?] I will go with Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav. Who will be in the playing XI, can be decided after looking at the balance and the opposition. But Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav will both be in my team,” Patil had told Star Sports.
Shastri would add, “Whether it was for Mumbai Indians, for India, whether it was handling pressure, opposition, or different situations of the game, he has ticked all the boxes for someone so young. When it comes to shot selection, when it comes to the range of shots, and the ability to be unorthodox, he has everything. So I’ll be looking at him very closely because he is hot at the moment, his mindset, his confidence, he understands situations, which is for me the most important thing.”
