There was no noise, no crowd, and no long lines of cameras at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai that day.
But as soon as the India A bus arrived, all eyes were fixed on just one player: Tilak Varma.
Returning to competitive cricket after nearly a month, Tilak made it clear from the moment he stepped onto the field that he was fully prepared.
The 23-year-old left-handed batsman started his light practice session earlier than the rest of the players.
After showcasing glimpses of his driving shots, he also bowled and was seen working hard in the nets for a long time. He didn’t stop even until the toss and only headed towards the dugout after the USA chose to bowl first.
Tilak Varma’s Return Gives Big Relief to Team India
Tilak had missed recent matches due to a groin injury. But his return, after rehabilitation and simulation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, looked very promising. While batting, he attacked the spinners, found the gaps, played the reverse sweep, and even hit a big shot.
His innings of 38 runs off 23 balls may not have been very long, but it made it clear that he hadn’t lost his touch.
Even after getting out to Shubham Ranjan’s bowling, Tilak ticked all the boxes that the team management wanted to see. He now looks like a strong contender for India’s number 3 batsman in the T20 World Cup.
Following Tilak’s return, another important discussion revolves around the wicketkeeper-batsman. The competition between Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan is now at a crucial stage.
Samson’s performance against New Zealand was weak, while Kishan made full use of the opportunity.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav’s statement on this has already come out. He had said, “The final call on Ishan Kishan versus Sanju Samson for the opener role will be revealed on February 7.”
Team Balance and Backup Options Under Watch
Backup options were also under scrutiny in the match against the USA, especially considering Washington Sundar’s fitness. Ravi Bishnoi delivered a superb bowling performance, taking 3 wickets and proving himself a reliable option. Tilak Varma also chipped in with a wicket while bowling part-time, providing the team with an additional option.
The Indian team will assemble in Mumbai on February 3rd and play a warm-up match against South Africa on February 4th. Approximately 20,000 tickets have already been sold for this match.
The match itself also went in India A’s favor. The team batted first, scoring 238 runs and then bowled out the USA for 200.
This victory wasn’t just about the scoreline; Tilak Varma’s strong comeback has further boosted India’s confidence ahead of their T20 World Cup campaign.
