India skipper Suryakumar Yadav has hailed Tilak Varma for “walking the talk,” as the youngster unlocked his potential as India’s new No. 3 batter with sensational back-to-back centuries that powered their 3-1 T20 International series triumph in South Africa. Various batters have been tried out in recent times for the crucial position once owned by Virat Kohli, with the team think-tank even experimenting with Rishabh Pant during the T20 World Cup, albeit with little success. Since then, players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have all had stints at No. 3 before skipper Suryakumar Yadav took over the role.

However, after being entrusted with the crucial No. 3 spot in the last two T20Is of the series, the 22-year-old Varma has firmly grabbed the position with both hands.

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who sacrificed his spot for the Mumbai Indians all-rounder, couldn’t agree more.

“It was actually running in my mind that there has been a time when one man has batted consistently at No. 3 and has done wonders for India,” Suryakumar told reporters after India’s massive 135-run win in the fourth T20I that completed their 3-1 series triumph.

“So, this was a perfect opportunity for a young guy, definitely for him, who is showing a lot of promise. We both actually spoke to each other and he took up the responsibility. He just walked the talk. The way he batted at SuperSport Park and here was incredible. Hope he continues, not only in T20s but in all formats.” In an aggressive batting display, India posted a huge 283 for 1, the fifth-highest total in men’s T20Is.

Tilak finished with an unbeaten 120 off 47 balls, while opener Sanju Samson, after two ducks in the last two games, slammed 109 not out off 56 to make it three hundreds in five outings.

Together, they hammered 210 runs off 86 balls for the second wicket — the highest T20I partnership for India for any wicket.

“Even before the (winning) the T20I WC, we played a few T20Is. We spoke about what brand and what type of cricket we wanted to play going forward,” Suryakumar said.

“We play IPL for different franchises, but when we come together, we wanted to do the same thing we do for our franchise, be on the same page, and play a different brand of cricket. Post T20I WC, we just followed the same thing we did there.” The victory underlined India’s new-found dominance in T20I cricket, even after the retirement of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja and especially without many of their regulars like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill.

What does it meant about Indian cricket? “I think it says a lot about how strong the base of Indian cricket is. Guys playing a lot of domestic cricket for their respective states. Guys wanting to go back and play for their states, that speaks a lot about their urge to play for their state, deliver, and keep that run,” the T20I skipper said.

Samson has also showcased his dominance in the opening role, and when asked about his place once Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal return, Suryakumar called it a “good headache” for the team.

“I haven’t thought that far ahead. I like to live in the moment because this is a special win, a special series victory,” he said.

“When they come back, we’ll discuss it calmly (aram se). It will be tough, but it’s a good headache to have going forward.

“Having 20-25 players in the squad and needing to pick 11 is a challenge, but it’s a great situation for any team. We’ll see, the team management, selectors, and BCCI will handle that headache. Koi dikkat nahin hai (no issues at all),” he said.

Rinku Singh, India’s designated finisher, had a quiet series with just 28 runs from three innings.

“Even I didn’t have a good series,” Suryakumar said firmly backing the Kolkata Knight Riders player.

“If you’re playing a team sport and 8 batters are batting, it wouldn’t be easy for every batter to score runs straight away. Teams would score 400 runs if every batter has their day.

“I have seen his hard work. Someone said good things happen to good people. It takes time and definitely comes along the way. He has delivered for India in difficult situations, and going forward, I’m sure when there is a crunch situation, he will deliver,” he said.

Unbelievable feeling: Tilak

For Varma, it was an “unbelievable feeling” and he’s yet to fully grasp the enormity of his achievement.

“I can’t express my feelings right now. It’s unbelievable. Can’t imagine socoring back-to-back hundreds, that too in SA. Right now, I can’t express my feelings,” he said.

Asked whether he would look to bat at No. 3 in future, he said: “It’s not in my hands. I got the opportunity from Surya bhai, and whatever the team needs, I try to fulfil it. I love playing at No. 3, but I’m ready for any role,” he said.

South Africa’s right-hand batter Marco Jansen slammed the fastest fifty against India in the shortest format of the game during the third T20I of the four-match series at the SuperSport Park on Wednesday.  Jansen played a marvellous innings of 54 runs off just 17 balls which was laced with five maximums and four boundaries in his innings at a whopping strike rate of 317.65. Jansen’s incredible knock with the bat added to former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn’s prediction earlier during the game that Jansen would fetch a Rs 10 crore price at the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Marco Jansen

A 10 crore player?

I’d say so.

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) November 13, 2024

In the Centurion T20I, the 24-year-old completed his fifty in just 16 balls and became the quickest one to do so. Earlier, this record was made by Australia’s all-rounder Cameron Green who achieved it in just 19 balls which came during the 2022 series in Hyderabad

Other than the two players, there are more players to do the same thing in this format. West Indies Johnson Charles (20 balls) did it in 2016 at Lauderhill and Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka (20 balls) did it in 2023 at Pune.

With this fifty, Jansen also became the second-fastest player to score a T20I half-century for the Proteas team after left-hand batter Quinton De Kock who did it 15 balls against West Indies at Centurion only in 2023.

Recapping the 3rd T20I of the series, South Africa won the toss and decided to field. Abhishek Sharma (50 runs from 25 balls, 3 fours and 5 sixes) and Tilak Varma (107* runs from 56 balls, 8 fours and 7 sixes) powered India to 219/6 in the first innings. Other batters failed to shine with the bat.

Andile Simelane and Keshav Maharaj led the Proteas bowling attack and bagged two wickets each in their respective spell.

During the run chase, Heinrich Klaasen (41 runs from 22 balls, 1 four and 4 sixes) and Marco Jansen (54 runs from 17 balls, 4 fours and 5 sixes) kept the Proteas in the game. But with the help of Arshdeep, India prevailed in the end.

Arshdeep did the job both with the new ball and in the death overs as he picked up three crucial wickets and gave 37 runs in his four-over spell. Varun Chakaravarthy bagged two wickets in his four-over spell.

Jansen played a marvellous innings of 54 runs off just 17 balls which was laced with five maximums and four boundaries in his innings at a whopping strike rate of 317.65.

In the Centurion T20I, the 24-year-old completed his fifty in just 16 balls and became the quickest one to do so. Earlier, this record was made by Australia’s all-rounder Cameron Green who achieved it in just 19 balls which came during the 2022 series in Hyderabad

Other than the two players, there are more players to do the same thing in this format. West Indies Johnson Charles (20 balls) did it in 2016 at Lauderhill and Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka (20 balls) did it in 2023 at Pune.

With this fifty, Jansen also became the second-fastest player to score a T20I half-century for the Proteas team after left-hand batter Quinton De Kock who did it 15 balls against West Indies at Centurion only in 2023.

Recapping the 3rd T20I of the series, South Africa won the toss and decided to field. Abhishek Sharma (50 runs from 25 balls, 3 fours and 5 sixes) and Tilak Varma (107* runs from 56 balls, 8 fours and 7 sixes) powered India to 219/6 in the first innings. Other batters failed to shine with the bat.

Andile Simelane and Keshav Maharaj led the Proteas bowling attack and bagged two wickets each in their respective spell.

During the run chase, Heinrich Klaasen (41 runs from 22 balls, 1 four and 4 sixes) and Marco Jansen (54 runs from 17 balls, 4 fours and 5 sixes) kept the Proteas in the game. But with the help of Arshdeep, India prevailed in the end.

Arshdeep did the job both with the new ball and in the death overs as he picked up three crucial wickets and gave 37 runs in his four-over spell. Varun Chakaravarthy bagged two wickets in his four-over spell.

South African cricketer Heinrich Klaasen admitted that he is hesitant to try India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav’s shots and also revealed his thoughts on T20 cricket, his memorable innings and a few personal favourites. Asked to describe his batting style in one word, Klaasen replied simply, “Explosive.” When it came to naming the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) T20 player, he said on JioCinema’s Q20s show, “I would say… Suryakumar Yadav probably.”

Known for his hard-hitting approach, Klaasen shared that his favourite shot is the “pick-up pull shot” and named Jasprit Bumrah as the “toughest bowler to hit out in T20s.” When asked to pick a shot he’d like to borrow from a batter, past or present, he replied, “It would be a combination of the scoop of AB de Villiers and Suryakumar Yadav. They both have this technique to hit fine leg off straight balls, which is phenomenal.”

Reflecting on his T20 career, Klaasen recalled two standout performances against India – his 81 in 2022 or 69 in 2018. He chose the former as his favourite. “Probably the 81. That was the better one in tougher conditions,” he remarked.

Klaasen named Yuzvendra Chahal as “the funniest non-South African player” he’s played with and shared his love for butter chicken as his favourite Indian dish.

For inspiration from other sports, Klaasen named multiple Formula 1 World Drivers Championship winner Lewis Hamilton, saying, “I wish I had the ability to drive cars like him.”

Klassen also suggested that Nicholas Pooran is the one batter who could potentially score a double hundred in T20 cricket. When asked who he’d trust to bat for his life, he replied, “Probably Hashim Amla.”

Speaking about the one shot he’s always wanted to try but hesitated on, Klassen said, “The one that Suryakumar Yadav plays over fine leg – Supla Shot. I don’t like getting into line too much,” he admitted with a laugh.

Sanju Samson beacme the seventh-fastest Indian batter to score 7,000 T20 runs.© AFP