Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes batting sensation Tilak Varma can be looked at as a backup option by the Indian selectors for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. The mega-event is all set to take place in India from October 5 to November 19, 2023. Team India has several questions to address in the playing XI before the World Cup.
With the World Cup just a few months away, KL Rahul and Shreyas’ recovery status is a cause of concern. They haven’t made their comeback yet after missing out on key tournaments due to injuries. In their absence, Team India hasn’t been able to settle in with their batting order. Tilak Varma, who made an impressive debut in the ongoing T20I series against the West Indies, is a likely backup option.
“This is neck-and-neck with respect to the World Cup. So, will they think about Tilak Varma as an option if we don’t have enough backups? Because Sanju Samson has performed really well in ODIs. But the exciting part about Tilak Varma is that he is a left-hander and Team India is lacking left-handers. Jaddu is the only left-handed batter in the top 7,” Ashwin said in his recent Youtube video.
“And look at the off-spinners from all the top teams. Australia have Ashton Agar. England has Moeen Ali and a leggie in Adil Rashid. So, most teams don’t have a finger spinner to challenge the left-handed batters. That is why the emergence of Tilak is crucial. It is still early but will they see him as an option? He has at least made everyone notice him. He is surely in the contingency plan. Because any selector who would have seen that knock would have gone, Woah!,” he added.
Tilak Varma’s game resembles a lot like Rohit Sharma: Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin feels Tilak Varma’s game resembles Team India Rohit Sharma. He observed that the left-hander has a natural pull shot, like an Australian batter. He also termed Tilak Varma’s knock against the West Indies in the second T20I “stupendous”. In his Youtube video, Ravichandran Ashwin said,
“His batting style is very unlike for an Indian making his international debut. His game resembles a lot like Rohit Sharma. He sweats on the pull shot. Generally, Indian batters won’t set up to play the pull shot. It is something they develop later. But his game looks like he has a natural pull shot and sends the ball outside the rope like an Aussie batter. Too early to call, but that knock was stupendous.”
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