I have always loved red-ball cricket: Tilak Varma

For the current generation of cricket fans, Tilak Varma’s image is that of a dashing, short-format batter for India and Mumbai Indians.

But over the last four days in the Duleep Trophy, the 23-year-old revealed another face – of that of a steely red-ball player.

Captaining South Zone in the semifinal versus North, he made an unbeaten 116 from 250 balls to rescue his side from a precarious 80 for five. In the second essay, he was unconquered on 51 (79b) as South chased 181 with ease.

“I have always loved red-ball cricket,” Tilak said after his match-winning performance. “I had never dreamt of playing white-ball [cricket] for India, but it’s God’s plan that I have played T20 and One-day for India. But my strength is the red-ball game.”

Numbers back this assertion. Though he has featured in just two First Class matches in the last 11 months, the Hyderabad southpaw has scored 1729 runs at an average of 55.77 and a strike-rate of 52.45 from 24 long-format outings. He also has eight centuries and six half-centuries to his name.

“From 2022, I have played a lot of white ball due to IPL and other things, but before that, I have gone through the grind in red ball,” Tilak explained. “No one has seen me since I was 10. It’s always been my strength and it’s there in my blood.

“In the last three-four years, I am not getting enough time because of the international schedule. But whenever I have had a week, or a break, I have played county and domestic cricket.”

Tilak is the vice-captain of the Indian T20I team, and leadership spurs him on, he stated.

“It gives you more responsibility. Since childhood, I have been captaining Hyderabad, across age categories and Ranji Trophy.

“I’ll be thinking, ‘if I am not performing, how will others?’ That extra pressure… I love that. It reflects in my batting too, when the team is under pressure.”