Tilak Varma’s lightning-quick recovery from injury has become the talk of Indian cricket circles, especially after his impactful performance in the T20 World Cup warm-up against South Africa. The 30-run triumph at DY Patil Stadium showcased India’s firepower, with Varma at the heart of the celebrations.
Post-match, the all-rounder was all gratitude: ‘I truly didn’t anticipate playing so soon. BCCI and the Center of Excellence deserve all the credit. The ‘Tilak-Tilak’ roars from a jam-packed crowd in a warm-up game were unreal – it supercharged me for the big stage.’
Electing to set a target, India dominated. Ishan Kishan’s 53 off 20 and Abhishek Sharma’s support saw 80/1 in six overs; both retired to deepen batting. Varma’s 45 off 19 meshed with Suryakumar Yadav for 66 runs, as Axar Patel, Rinku Singh, and Hardik Pandya (30 off 10) pushed to 240/5.
South Africa’s chase nosedived with George Linde’s golden duck to Arshdeep. Markram and Rickelton’s 65-run stand revived hopes, but Markram’s retirement triggered a slide: Brevis, Rickelton, Miller out fast. Smith, Stubbs, and Jansen resisted, but 30 runs eluded them.
Varma credited the team’s bold batting for his motivation, emphasizing unity. ‘The atmosphere was phenomenal, and we’re primed for World Cup glory.’ Saturday’s USA clash awaits, with Varma embodying India’s triumphant momentum.