Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif compared Tilak Varma with legendary Virat Kohli after the former’s heroics in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan at Dubai on Sunday. Chasing 147 runs for the win, India found themselves under pressure at 20-3, losing in-form Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav.
However, India was able to get back into the contest as Varma was cool as ice when the team was put under the pump in a high-octane clash. The left-hander scored a match-winning knock of 69 runs off just 53 balls, laden with three fours and four sixes.
“Tilak has played a lot with Virat Kohli. He has seen from that style, Kohli was a classical player who would take time and had a solid temperament. I see glimpses of Kohli in Tilak. He takes responsibility and is there under pressure. Notably, he reached his half-century in about 40 balls, not smashing from the start, but building the innings carefully and accelerating at just the right time. His temperament under pressure drew comparisons to Virat Kohli, especially for the ability to guide a chase in a high-stakes match,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
Kaif recalled how Virat Kohli had hit Haris Rauf for two sixes on the last two balls of the penultimate over at Melbourne in the famous 2022 T20 World Cup clash and said Tilak played similarly like the former Indian captain.
“Kohli had hit two sixes to Haris Rauf in Melbourne and won the game, this was a similar knock. Tilak played in the same way here. There are many similarities. He took time and then went for the big shots. His fitness is brilliant as well. Tilak’s name but not Shreyas Iyer’s name. People questioned why he is playing as his strike-rate is low. In his short internatioal career he has already made two hundreds. Just few months back once was even ‘retired out’ in an IPL match for slow scoring, today’s innings is a sensational comeback as that is a very shameful moment for any player,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Natwest Trophy final hero picked Tilak Varma as the biggest takeaway for India in the Asia Cup triumph ahead of Abhishek Sharma.
“I will name Tilak Varma. Abhishek gives good starts in the powerplay. But Tilak soaked the pressure in the middle overs. He was there till the end and finished the game. This shows how solid a player is and how he can do for the team in the future. Abhishek does play well but I believe an average player cannot play like Tilak did,” he said.
“Big players flopped in the final. Tilak has belief on his game and technique. This was a big test for him to stay unbeaten and win the game from a difficult situation. He is the biggest takeaway as his spot was not set too,” he added.
Tilak scored 213 runs in six innings of the Asia Cup at an average of 71 and a strike rate of 131.48.
