Varma, who scored 46 in the ongoing Duleep Trophy semi-final against North Zone, talks how India selection is “a big thing”.
There was an extra spring in his steps when Tilak Varma strode out to bat on an overcast morning at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium with South Zone in a spot of bother at 63/4 against North Zone in the Duleep Trophy semifinals. Varma, unbeaten on 12 overnight, didn’t have a good sleep as he was too overwhelmed by the news of his call up to India’s T20 side. He must have expected it as he wasn’t picked for India A squad for the ACC Emerging Cup, but it was still a huge moment.
On Wednesday evening, Varma was informed of his selection to the Indian T20 team by his childhood friend. He would then make a video-call to his parents to break the news. “My mom and dad were literally crying yesterday (Wednesday). I made a video call to them and they were very emotional. My coach (Salam Bayash) also had the same reaction, very emotional,” Varma said.
But when he strode out alongside Mayank Agarwal , rather than the emotions taking the better of him, the call-up had only taken his self confidence a notch higher. “I was confident because I was thinking that now I am a capped player. I was confident and yesterday also I was confident, but it was different,” Varma said on Thursday.
Even though North Zone’s Baltej Singh and Vaibhav Arora were on the money from the word go, Varma defended with full control. There was a touch of impatience early on, especially in the way he pressed into his defense or trying to steal quick singles. But just after 13 minutes, bad light would end up halting play till 11 am. When he resumed, Varma looked full of authority in whatever he did. There was even a bit of arrogance in the manner in which he hooked Arora for a big six over fine-leg, with his front foot dangling in the air. And then there was this supremely timed inside-out over the covers off the same bowler.
It was at this stadium that Varma had made heads turn earlier in the IPL this year with a disdainful knock – an unbeaten 84 off 46 deliveries when Mumbai Indians were wobbling away at 48/4. From there on, it has been a matter of when he makes the India cut rather than if. “I was just thinking about my process. I was not thinking about anything else. I was thinking about whatever matches were coming my way, I should be focusing on them and when the selection came my way I was happy,” Varma said about the days since that knock.
With South Zone in a precarious position, there was no time for celebrations, but Varma did find time to thank some of his childhood friends and coach, who have played a big role in him getting this far. His father, Namboori Nagaraju is an electrician, so picking up cricket was not a straight-forward decision. After watching his potential, his coach Salam Bayash would also waive of his fees and even go to the extent of picking him up for practice and drop him at home later on which was nearly 40km away from the academy.
“It is a big thing to get selected for the Indian team. I talked to a few of my childhood friends and parents and coach who have been with me through the journey. And I also had to think about tomorrow’s challenge (batting on Day 2), how to bat and all. Even during the sleep, I was thinking about the selection. It (selection) is a big thing but I kept it aside because I have a match to win for the South Zone. That is the main thing. Things went well but unfortunately, we did not get a big total, but we are still looking for an outright win,” Varma, who scored 46, said as South Zone ended up conceding a lead of three runs as they folded for 195 with Agarwal top-scoring with 76.
With India’s T20 squad having a settled batting line-up at the top, Varma may have to bat in the middle-order, just like what he did for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. It isn’t an easy job, but one he is getting used to thanks to some sound advice from Kieron Pollard, who was the batting coach at the franchise.
“I will always back myself in any situation. I try to be clear in my mindset because Pollard was the main guy who used to do the job for us in that situation and he always tells me to be calm and just focus on the next ball and when you keep the shape, you can execute your shots,” Varma said.
“They always tell me when you are in the room on the match eve always think about how you bat tomorrow. That helps me to visualise how to bat, like even in a World Cup, if you are four wickets or five wickets down for 40 or 50, how you take the game. That is the sort of mindset I’m working so that it helps me going forward. It is getting easier for me by doing this,” Varma said.
