Tilak exploring new methods of scoring
When Tilak Varma came to bat in the fourth T20I in Johannesburg, South African skipper Aiden Markram brought on Keshav Maharaj, a move that seemed questionable given the match-up — left-arm spinner versus left-handed batter.
Perhaps, Tilak’s struggle against Axar Patel in an IPL 2024 match between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals was playing on Markram’s mind. Tilak, however, soon exposed the folly behind that thought — carting two sixes off the fourth and fifth balls he faced off Maharaj.
Similarly, pacer Andile Sipamala followed the common strategy of pitching the ball full and wide outside the off-stump to keep it outside batsman’s reach. But Tilak moved across the stumps, went down on his knee and swept the last ball of the 19th over for a boundary to square leg. All those shots were exceptional in their execution, but they also showcased a transformed Tilak — a batter not shy of exploring unconventional methods to score runs. “When he started training at my academy, we never really encouraged him to play such shots. I think a batsman should start with perfecting his traditional technique before playing all those modern shots,” said Salam Bayash, his childhood coach.
But once he stepped into the top-flight cricket last year against West Indies, Tilak realised the need to add more dimensions to his batting, particularly in the T20 format. The thought dawned on him after playing alongside Suryakumar Yadav at Mumbai Indians, and watching him perfecting those 360-degree shots at nets.
“He always had the confidence and skill. It was just about practising some of those shots at nets,” said Bayash.
