In Gqeberha, Tilak Varma approached Suryakumar Yadav with a clear request to be promoted in the batting order. Up until then, Varma had batted at No. 4 in the first two T20Is of the series, scoring 33 off 18 balls and 20 off 20. In a fiercely competitive Indian T20 setup, where fresh talent emerges every year through the IPL, making a mark can be challenging. Despite being just 22, Varma had already faced setbacks, including two consecutive hand injuries that kept him out of T20I series in Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. Even during the home series against Bangladesh, he was a late replacement for the injured Shivam Dube but did not get any playing time.
Suryakumar, understanding the pressure, handed over his coveted No. 3 spot to Varma with the simple advice to “express yourself.” Varma did just that, delivering in style by scoring back-to-back T20I centuries, joining an exclusive club of only five players to achieve this feat. His second century came on a thrilling night at Wanderers on November 15, where India posted an astounding 283/1 to win the series 3-1. Suryakumar praised Varma’s incredible performance and hoped the success would translate across all formats. He even hinted at a comparison to Virat Kohli, who dominated the No. 3 position for over a decade in white-ball cricket.
Suryakumar reflected, “It was on my mind that there was a time when one man consistently batted at No. 3 and did wonders for India. This was the perfect opportunity for someone like Tilak, who has shown a lot of promise. We both spoke about it and agreed that it was the right time for him to take responsibility at No. 3—not just now, but moving forward too.” He continued, “And Varma lived up to it, the way he batted in both the Supersport Park and Wanderers games was incredible. I hope he continues this form, not just in T20s but across all formats for India.”
Varma’s remarkable back-to-back centuries came at strike rates of 191.07 and 255.32, perfectly aligning with India’s bold new approach to T20 cricket in 2024. After years of treating T20s as a shorter version of ODIs, this aggressive mindset has led India to a dominant year, winning 24 of their 26 T20Is, setting massive totals like 297 and 283, and securing a second T20 World Cup title.
Suryakumar elaborated on India’s refreshed approach: “Before the World Cup, we discussed the kind of cricket we wanted to play in T20s. We play IPL and represent different franchises, but when we come together as a team, we aim to play with the same intensity and brand of cricket that we do in the IPL. Since the T20 World Cup, we’ve stuck to that approach because it’s working well for us.”
Looking ahead, Suryakumar acknowledged that India’s evolving T20 team will face new challenges, especially with players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill waiting for their chance. However, he chose to focus on the present. “I haven’t thought about that yet; I like to live in the moment. Today’s win and series victory are special, so I’ll enjoy that. When Jaiswal and Gill return, we’ll sit down and discuss the best way forward. It’s a good problem to have when you have so many talented players to choose from, and I’m sure the team management, selectors, and BCCI will handle the situation.”