India clinched a convincing 3-1 T20I series victory against South Africa, sealing the deal with a 30-run win in the fifth and final match in Ahmedabad on Friday. The triumph was powered by a stellar batting performance, but post-match discussions were dominated by support for the out-of-form captain and praise for the bowling attack.
Varma's Vote of Confidence for Captain Suryakumar
Following his match-winning 73 runs off 42 balls, young batter Tilak Varma offered strong backing to skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who managed only 5 runs from 7 deliveries. Yadav's struggle in T20Is this year continues, with a tally of 218 runs in 19 innings at an average of 13.62, without a single half-century.
Tilak revealed the advice he gave to his captain during their partnership, emphasizing patience. "I was just saying to him that just middle a few balls, just wait and be calm," Varma told reporters. He urged Yadav to focus on timing and finding gaps rather than forcing big shots immediately.
The young left-hander expressed unwavering belief that one significant innings is all it will take for the world's once-dominant T20 batter to regain his devastating touch. "Everyone is waiting for that one innings," Tilak added, highlighting the dangerous potential Suryakumar possesses.
Bumrah and Chakravarthy Hailed as Wicket-Taking Pillars
Shifting focus to the bowling department, Tilak Varma pinpointed Jasprit Bumrah and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy as India's crucial wicket-taking weapons in the T20 format. The duo shared six wickets in the decisive match, effectively halting South Africa's chase of 232.
"Comparing to other fast bowlers, everyone knows that Jasprit Bumrah has that extra sting in his bowling. The same way, I would also say that Varun Chakravarthy has that extra something," Varma stated. He labeled them as the team's 'go-to' bowlers, the ones the captain turns to when a breakthrough is desperately needed.
He particularly praised Chakravarthy's consistency and clutch performance under pressure, noting his two-wicket over in the final game. "The way Varun is doing consistently for the team is good to watch and that's what makes him a world No. 1 T20 bowler," Tilak remarked.
Partnership with Pandya and Team-First Approach
Reflecting on India's massive total of 231 for 5, Tilak credited his 105-run partnership with Hardik Pandya as pivotal. Pandya blazed his way to a 16-ball half-century, the second-fastest for India in T20Is. "It was incredible batting by him. The way he was hitting every ball right from the middle of the bat," Varma said, admiring the innings from the non-striker's end.
He also acknowledged the contributions of openers Abhishek Sharma (34) and Sanju Samson (37), who set a positive tone on what he described as a good batting wicket. Tilak emphasized his adaptable, team-first mindset, stating his readiness to either attack from ball one or play the finisher's role as per the situation's demand.
The series win in Ahmedabad provides a significant confidence boost for the Indian team, blending experienced stars with emerging talents, as they build towards future global tournaments.
