Team India vice-captain Tilak Varma took everyone by storm in the second T20I against Zimbabwe at Harare. The Men in Blue won the toss and opted to bat first.
Coming out to bat at the halfway mark of the Indian innings, Tilak made his intentions clear right away, smashing a boundary off the very second ball he faced. While he did take a few deliveries to settle after that, he went after the bowling once he had his eyes in. The left-hander smashed a quickfire half-century off just 23 balls.
As Tilak Varma was criticised for batting slowly and being unable to up the ante at times, fans believed this innings was a perfect reply to the criticism. They were in awe of his blistering knock.
“Cooked all those people who said he can’t hit from ball one,” a fan wrote on X.
“Much Needed Knock from Tilak Varma, he need to defend his position for which he was picked. 23 balls 50 will boost his confidence and hopefully get back to his lost form,” another fan wrote.
Below are some other reactions from fans on X –
Tikak Varma finished with an unbeaten 60 off just 29 balls at a strike rate of 206.9. His knock included five boundaries and three maximums.
Tilak Varma gives India a strong finish
Tilak Varma’s scintillating knock gave the Men in Blue a strong finish as they posted a match-winning total of 219/5 after batting first. He was also involved in a solid partnership with Ishan Kishan, who also struck a 44-ball 81 earlier.
The duo added 94 runs off just 43 balls for the fourth wicket, with Tilak contributing 50 off 23 while Ishan made 41 off 21. Earlier in the innings, Vaibhav Suryavanshi (20 off 9) and captain Shreyas Iyer (25 off 20) also made some key contributions.
It was the ninth time this year that India posted a total in excess of 200 in a T20I. Being 1-0 up after winning the first game by seven wickets, the visitors will aim to defend this total and seal the series.
Edited by Rishab Vm